HOLLY GOES LIGHTLY

Happy Birthday, Kate

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:38:00 +0000

lock up your wellies - the little things love a good chew

Holiday Ready

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:45:00 +0000

I'm not one for red velvet bows or colored lights, and my Christmas door likes itself a little understated. How does your entry like to dress for the holidays?

Jacksonville?

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:33:00 +0000

Yes, Jacksonville. On business. And never without a {relatively large} group trip to Singleton's of Mayport. It's a dive {the food is served on styro and the 'ritas arrive in 20 oz plastic cups}, but some of the best fresh seafood and service in Florida. If you find yourself on the North Coast, you won't want to miss it...

Fresh seafood on ice as you walk in

The back screened-in porch looks out over the local shrimping fleet.

And don't forget a slice of key lime pie.

Mudroom Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Finally converted from a mid-construction nightmare to a finished space for hot chocolate, muddy Wellingtons, and wet paws {coat closet doorknob on order!}

Each frame contains an image of a Labrador Retriever, sourced from antique English dog books and vintage post card collections.

From Royal Wedding to Charlotte Symphony

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:52:00 +0000

Charismatic & oh-so-British Christopher Warren-Green, in his second season as Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, enjoyed worldwide acclaim conducting the London Chamber Orchestra during this spring's wedding of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. He has been 'musically acquainted' with HRH Prince Charles for over 30 years (performing at countless royal events throughout, including the Prince's wedding + the Queen's 80th birthday party) and, together with the Abbey's Master of the Choristers, provided counsel to Wills & Kate throughout the planning process.

Last night, Warren-Green and the CSO opened their 80th season with a fabulous all-Russian program. The concert featured Croatian pianist Martina Filjak (in a stunning iridescent moss green gown), making her CSO debut with Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. It was a wonderful evening full of amazing performances -- the kind of cultural experience Charlotte cannot afford to lose. And while the Symphony is currently facing significant financial challenges, I'm hoping last night's full house was a strong indication that it will be around for many years to come.

Stupid Is As Stupid Says

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:19:00 +0000

Please shut your pie hole about the HPV vaccine, Ms. Bachmann. Those of us with a functioning cerebral cortex have had enough.

Kitchen ~ Before & Middle

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:13:00 +0000

About 2 months ago, I found a wonderful house painter through a friend. He's much in demand {the good ones always are} so I quickly got myself on his list. I'm very happy to report his team started yesterday morning and they've already made significant progress on the 1st floor. Here's one view of the kitchen + mudroom before, and in progress. All very exciting.

Folly Beach

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:24:00 +0000

Labor Day weekend was crazy, but Folly -- The Edge of America -- has settled back to its normal, laid-back self. Walks on the near-empty beach are breezy & cool (relatively), outdoor tables are easier to come by @ Taco Boy, and watermelon is back in stock at The Pig. One of the most dog-friendly beach towns anywhere, well-behaved, leashed-up pups are welcome on the beach before 10/after 6, and on the patios of most restaurants anytime (4 paws up from India).

This time of year the waves are surf-perfect and the humidity is low. If you do leave the beach, please don't miss the blackened tuna nachos at Rita's, the blueberry pancakes at the Lost Dog, or the Spiked Lemonade at Blu.

Primordial Why

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:26:00 +0000

I'm catching up on some of the reality TV missed while living in London. Finding Sarah is in re-runs on OWN and 'though some bits are really good, I'm not so sure about her visit to a shaman in the midst of the Sonoran Desert. Still trying to get beyond his Heidi braids and scream therapy. But hey, whatever works right? Good luck, Sarah.

Found It!

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:47:00 +0000

I began considering wallpaper for my dining room more than 2 years ago. Happily, the search has ended (!) with this modern translation of an historical chinoiserie pattern.

With a few reliable service providers, this could all be transformed by the end of September (fingers crossed).

Denim & Supply

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:26:00 +0000

After registering for a Fall mystery writing class with Gotham, I thought the time might be right for a little online school shopping. Enter Ralph Lauren and this amazing beacon blanket sweater from his newest line - Denim & Supply. Perfect to wear with last year's J. Crew suede fringe booties, old Levi's & my collection of vintage Native American turquoise.

Zing. It's mine.

Book It

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Fall always marks the arrival of fabulous new releases -- the impending holiday season seems to get everyone refocused on upping the lifestyle ante & making sure their own homes are looking amazing. Here are a few I'm currently reading or impatiently awaiting...

What about you?

Media Maven

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:29:00 +0000

A bedroom in the back of my house is being requisitioned for the big screen. A small flat screen will tuck into a cabinet next to the fireplace to allow simultaneous fall football + crackling fire viewing in the living room. But primary Netflix streaming/Real Housewives following will occur in the new media room, where I'm currently focusing all remodelista activities (heavily influenced by The Novogratz). The room's existing white walls & shutters, and ebony hardwoods, will be the foundation.

The motivation behind the vivid color scheme is this large scale photograph -- a total impulse buy during my first trip to Charleston, South Carolina in 2006 (1st in the artist's original series of 25).

This hot pink canvas will upholster a Charlotte sectional

Greek key Trina Turk cocktail napkins will probably be most often found on this lucite waterfall table

1 turquoise + 1 lime pouf will provide surfaces for sitting or foot-resting

Everything will perch atop this candy-striped rug

India gets a new Fatboy dog bed

And a pair of 1960's wrought iron patio tables. providing cocktail perches on either side of the Charlotte, will be topped with these fabulous vintage chrome yellow lamps (a recent ebay find) with some big white drum shades.

Remodel, Interrupted

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

In early 2006, I bought an 'as-is' 1920's colonial in Charlotte, North Carolina with great enthusiasm and a strong desire to make it my own. By late 2006, I was completely over plumber rip-offs, electrician no-shows, cabinetmaker flake-outs, plaster dust, dicey handymen, paint disasters, and plain old shoddy work. Starting a new job in a new city, while at the same time acting as my own general contractor, was too much. I threw my hands up, said 'enough', and left large pieces of my house incomplete (see Kitchen & Mudroom, below).

Fortunately, 8 months in London living in hotels and an antiseptic corporate apartment had a reinvigorating effect. Since returning, my house has been a proper hive of activity. I've purchased wallpaper & fabrics & rugs, sent furniture to be reupholstered, hired a painter, and -- after 5 years with a gaping hole above the range -- installed a hood.

It may not seem like much to you, but to me it feels like a pretty good start.

India

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:57:00 +0000

It's been forever, I know. But when wrapping up an international finance project, going on extended holiday, packing up & moving countries, starting a new job, and getting a house back in order, time does fly. So here's what's new -- meet India (more formally, Thimble Farm's India Ink, daughter of Shadylake's Southern Dixie Buddy & Flint River's Georgia), my 11 week old black Lab. She likes long walks, the UPS man, small rocks, and electrical cords.

She dislikes nap time.

Hint #3

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Wimbledon

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:23:00 +0000

Amazing day @ Wimbledon yesterday with London rain stopping long enough to keep the roof open the entire day. Drank Pimm's {on tap, fabulous} both in the garden and in the stadium under sunny skies while watching Wozniacki (1), Federer (3) and Djokovic (2) all move through to the 4th. Saw many carrying camping kit throughout {tents, etc.} -- evidence of a long day and an early queue. That's dedication to sport. Not me. I was in good seats just outside the reach of the blazing sun right next to the Royal Box. Where there were no sightings of a Duchess. Damn.

Lobster Roll Pop-up Shop

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:04:00 +0000

This weekend at Luna & Curious, an amazing boutique tucked into one of the many nooks & crannies surrounding Shoreditch High Street, you can have your lobster roll & eat it too. {See the July UK Elle Decoration spread below for more detail on this fabulous area...}

Hint #2

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:47:00 +0000

What's New?

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:19:00 +0000

I'm returning to the U.S. on 4th of July week-end with something new. Here's a little hint.

Can you possibly guess?

Selfridges & Anya Hindmarch Bespoke

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 09:15:00 +0000

While I love things, I'm not partial to shopping. But there is one retail establishment where I've been known to spend an entire Sunday afternoon. And I think a few others must too, since it's impossible to shake a stick in London without hitting one of its carrier bags...

Selfridges is famous for many things, but what I love most are its incredible pop-up shops -- like the current installation of Anya Hindmarch Bespoke. The tiny space reminds me of a posh 1940's cobbler dropped smack in the midst of Balenciaga & Prada. The staff {shout out to Karen, you will be missed!} is amazing and -- if you love the classics -- the selection is heavenly. Anya's archetypical styles are custom crafted of fine skins {lizard, box calf, croc} in beautiful colors, with endless options for personalization in block type or your own handwriting.

Although we agonized over size & color & style for ages {taking a break in the middle of the decision-making process for a pomegranate bellini @ Hix}, my cousin and I finally settled on twin Ebury handbags -- hers in a rich tan French box calf, mine in deep chocolate -- with a handwritten inscription embossed within to memorialize our time together in London.

While Anya's Selfridges pop-up won't last forever, her Bespoke Shop in Pont Street, Belgravia will {I hope} remain for the ages.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:53:00 +0000

Amazing weather at this year's sell-out show on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (which has hosted the show since 1913) ensured a crazy crowd, and crowded it was. My cousin and I were there in the afternoon, and the gardens were fabulous (if a bit wilted from the heat). We wove our way around the grounds until just before closing, and then headed over to the Bluebird Cafe for dinner. A wonderful day all 'round...

Lisa in Lonny

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Sun, 15 May 2011 10:08:00 +0000

A friend of mine (I'm happy to say), the terrifically talented Lisa Sherry (of Lisa Sherry Interieurs) is featured in the latest Lonny. Although based in North Carolina (you may know her from her amazing pop-up shop in Charlotte, Mixology), her style is out of this world fabulous.

How To Capri

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Mon, 02 May 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Stay

A bit beyond the center of the little town of Capri, but well worth the 15-minute stroll on a jasmine-scented street, Punta Tragara is perched on the Mediterranean high above the iconic Faraglioni. Located at the end of Via Tragara, the hotel was originally a villa designed in the 1920's by Le Corbusier. The location, which served as the headquarters for the American Command and hosted Eisenhower & Churchill, is dramatic and the views are unparalleled. My room {upgraded from a garden view} overlooked Marina Piccola and a host of large yachts anchored just off the coast. The staff was extremely attentive but unobtrusive, the interiors {especially the baths} fabulous, and the views amazing.

Also on Via Tragera is the tiny but beautiful La Scalinatella {its owners, the Morgano family, also own Casa Morgano & the Quisisana}. Each of the 30 rooms has a unique design, but all are quintessentially Capri with bold patterns and bright colors. Private terraces directly overlook the Mediterranean Sea. If you're in Capri for a bit of peace, La S is much more quiet & subdued than Punta Tragara {in front of which tourists congregate to view La Faraglioni}. Families with children are better served at Casa Morgano next door. And while there is no in-house restaurant, the town of Capri is only a 10-minute walk away.

Eat

Have you ever been to Club Méditerranée? Franco is Edode's chef de village, and you won't be able to resist him, the wait staff, or the food / wine at this fabulous restaurant. Situated at the opposite end of Via Camerelle from the Quisisana, guests of Casa Morgano, La Scalinatella & Punta Tragara will pass it on their way into the center of Capri. Although I admit it was the chic decor that initially drew me in, the amazing food & friendly staff made the meal memorable. I was in the mood for aglio e olio, which wasn't on the menu. But when Franco took my order and said anything you want, I ordered it and it was fantastic. The couple next to me had the Ravioli Caprese and a beef dish, and they loved theirs too. Loads of other offerings, as well as some beautiful desserts {but whatever you do, don't forget an icy limoncello to finish}.

While some prefer Buonocore, I found the best gelato at Bar Embassy, also on the Via Camerelle. It's the perfect place to pick up a scoop in the evening after a drink on the patio of the Quisisana or on a stroll to the Piazetta {love the pistachio}

Shop
Costanzo, grandson of Amadeo, will very likely be the one behind the counter greeting 'buongiorno' as you enter Canfora. His mother & aunt are the 'hands' behind the operation, continuing to craft sandals as their father did starting in 1946, but Costanzo is likely the one who will help you find the perfect pair, and the perfect fit. As you pursue your jeweled treasure in the piles of sandals heaped throughout the tiny shop, you'll quickly see why the style hall of fame {Jacqueline Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Caroline of Hanover, Elle Macpherson} have worn & loved his family's creations. Although available online, I think a personal fitting by Costanzo in the Via Camerelle storefront is best.

Carthusia is a boutique perfumery based on Capri. According to legend, in the late 1940's the prior of the Carthusian Monastery of San Giacomo discovered certain ancient perfume formulas originating from as far back as 1380 and, with the Pope's permission, revealed them to a chemist from Turin. The original scents were subsequently produced from the small laboratory named "Carthusia". Laura Tonatto continues the monks tradition and, using similar limited production methods, has reworked the fragrances based on the original formulas. The ladies in the shop on Via Camerelle, well armed with paper sticks & coffee beans, will help select the one perfect for you. I loved both Via Camerelle & Corallium, their 1st 'new' fragrance in 300 years.

See also: Simon Doonan's Guide to Capri for Travel + Leisure; Pamela Fiore's In the Spirit of Capri

Sarah's Revenge

noreply@blogger.com (holly) — Sun, 01 May 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Next time just invite her, ok?