What Would Dorothy Draper Do?

"Birds are so much wiser than we! A robin builds a nest for robins. A seagull builds a nest for seagulls. They don't copy each other--or build themselves nests as described in 'The Birds Decorating' magazine."  -Dorothy Draper

One of my favorite books is In the Pink written by Carleton Varney. It is a beautiful coffee table book that showcases Dorothy Draper, who from the 1930's-1960's was the most famous decorator in America. She was also way ahead of her time--a pioneer businesswoman (her trademark cabbage-rose chintz is still famous to this day), she designed many interiors for restaurants, theaters, department stores, homes, and hotels. From the "menus to the matchboooks", she covered every detail when working on a hotel project.

Some of her most famous projects are the Hampshire House in New York City and the Greenbrier resort in West Virgina. She also created her own fabrics for F. Schumacher & Co.  Her "Ask Dorothy" Column aimed to provide middle-class housewives with affordable ideas for making their homes more beautiful and comfortable.

I recently picked up two of her books (now vintage); Decorating is Fun! and Entertaining is Fun! for some inspiration.

Dorothy Draper is definitely on my "Who Would You Have Dinner With?" list. I'm sure our dinner would include monogrammed menus and matchbooks, of course!

xo

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
may good luck pursue you each morning and night. 
-Irish Blessing

I can't wait for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday. The parade expects over 200,000 people! There are no floats, just marching and music. http://nycstpatricksparade.org/.  I recently read that the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York was held on lower Broadway (back in 1762!) by a small band of homesick Irish ex-patriots and Irish military that were stationed in the American colonies. Looks like they were on to something big!

The parade kicks off at 11am on 44th Street and marches up Fifth Avenue, past St. Patrick's Cathedral, ending up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Irish Historical Society at 86th Street around 5pm.

If you are hosting a green gathering for friends at home, serve up traditional Irish fare like Sheperd's Pie, or try an untraditional twist with a "mashed potato bar." You could create pretty flower arrangements made with Belles of Ireland, or put together a few monochromatic arrangements by using a green-only array of: Moss, Protea, Mums, and green berry. Send guests home with a cute party favor like this one I made--and, it was great practice emptying a Guinness for the flowers in the to-go "vase" (Someday I WILL master the perfect shamrock in the foam on top)...

I'm hoping to keep my own tradition and wrap up the day with a lucky toast at the best Irish pub in my neighborhood--Dublin 6, love.

http://dublin6nyc.com/

Slainte. 

XO



Film-spiration.

Vintage Movie Nights?  The Best.

Who didn't love to hate Steff in Pretty in Pink?  After watching this one in the late 80's, I was inspired to try my hand at sewing. ( I failed miserably. Prom dress was promptly purchased.)  Team Duckie!

St. Elmo's Fire--my college best friends continue to steal my heart. And, it's true, sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Less Than Zero made me want to move to Los Angeles (when I first watched it whilst babysitting at the mature age of 11.)  Not really sure why...the palm trees?  I was never half as cool as Jamie Gertz's character but still, not much has changed (never say never...wait for me, L.A.!) And, congrats Robert Downey Jr. on your new baby but, sadly, I really thought we had a chance... ;-)

Hmmm...what would I do differently to Jule's apartment?  NOTHING!  OK, maybe I'd lose the blue halo, but I would def keep the earring lit up against a bright pink wall.  We should all have a decorator named Ron.

Some Kind of Wonderful. Come on!  If confidence isn't the sexiest quality about someone?!  Who rocked a short-short haircut in high school better than Watts?

Vintage movie nights could make you nostalgic for John Hughes, Brat Packs and scrunchies.  But, only for approx. 90 minutes (without commercial  breaks).  Good news, 90 minutes is a gold mine of time for inspirational ideas!

PS: After recently discussing a vintage movie night with friends (one whose boyfriend had the audacity to say "Turn these off, they suck." ) We told him that he must have missed the "crush" phase-- because when you watch these in your early teens, they stay with you forever. They catch you at a certain phase, and never let you go.

XO



Broadway Playbill Frame

Most people have to pick and choose what to collect or save. I'm all about sentimental value but some things just have to go. For me, cluttered space = cluttered mind!

I had two boxes filled with Broadway playbills from shows I had seen over the years. I thought about individually framing them and hanging them in rows. I also thought about cutting off the covers for a Tony Awards-themed event I was planning and pasting them in a collage on the top of the bar before fitting a piece of glass over it.

I went to my local framer for ideas, and brought the measurements of one of my blank walls. He had the ingenious idea of cutting one big frame to custom fit around all of the playbills. It's huge! And it looks perfect in the room.

If you did host a Tony Awards viewing party with a playbill-themed piece, you could string lights and create your own 42nd Street right at home. Just don't break a leg! ;-)

XO

Vintage Love.

I get pretty excited about a great vintage find. I found this sweet little vintage Chanel label at an antique store near Stonington, Rhode Island. And, this hand-painted French tray was literally "found" on a hall table in my apartment building. There is this strange table where residents leave unwanted treasures, instead of throwing them out, for others to take if they want (NY'ers--do have one of these tables too?).  I really shouldn't call it strange, since I've seen many people walk into the building wearing a former pair of shoes and even dresses of mine (I only want it back when it looks better on them). It's fashionable recyclying at it's best I guess.

What do you think of my new bedroom wallpaper? It's an oldie but a goodie. If it looks familiar to you, it's definitely been around a while. It's called "Martinique" and is most famous because it hangs in the Beverly Hills Hotel. (http://www.beverlyhillswallpaper.com/)


That adorable sleep mask is from one of my most beloved vintage stores in NYC: Darling. The owner, Ann French Emonts, was a former Broadway costume designer and has an incredible eye--she is the ultimate Mermaid. (http://darlingnyc.com/) I'm not quite bold enough to wear that sleep mask on an airplane, but once my new Martinique wallpaper is hung in my bedroom--I will have no qualms what. so. ever, darling.

XO

Omega.

A few years ago I worked at a health magazine and we hosted the first-ever Yoga festival in Central Park.  At the time I wasn't really into Yoga but was soon turned on to the idea of 'practicing' a form of excercise to quiet a noisy mind.

I recently visited this beautiful little spot, the Omega Institute, in Rhinebeck, New York for a mini yoga retreat.  (http://eomega.org/)  I stayed in rustic accomodations (true dorm-room style) the entire "campus" is on a beautiful  lake and features a meditation temple. And, a really great bookstore--I picked up these cards because I loved their messages. Especially "Don't believe everything you think." 

 
Only a short train ride from NYC, you can kayak, canoe, do yoga or just do nothing.  A great weekend getaway and a wonderful way to get the noise out of your head. And, there are really great hammocks. So bring a book. Or, don't.
  
 xo

Snowy Day Project.

I love a snowy, cozy day. First of all, it's the perfect excuse to nest.  Second, it's a great opportunity to tackle a project that keeps falling off of one to-do list to the next one...week after week.  I was tired of looking at a certain wall in my apartment and equally tired of never finding the right piece of jewelry when I needed it!

My friend Berns helped me sort through a mess of a drawer that was overstuffed with jewelry. Typically, in a City apartment, you have to make the most of every spot. And, my boring white wall was up to no good. It was valuable unused real estate, so I made it into a Jewelry Box of sorts with the best part being now I will see what I have every day.

Command 3M makes great no-damage, adhesive hooks that will not take the paint off your wall and you can easily move them around.  I used the hooks but you could be much more creative and hang jewelry from vintage hooks or doorknobs. On top, I tied a ribbon to both ends of a bookshelf to easily poke earrings and pins into.

I also found a killer decal (I know that sounds like a contradiction) to go on this wall, and my Dad is making me a thin wooden table to fit underneath (yes, he's making it!) that I will paint a lacquered Tiffany Box blue.

Thank you Berns for all of your help and your height in reaching the top of my bookcase. ;-) 

PS: Thanks for all the nice emails/facebook messages lately about this blog and M&M...very, very appreciated!!!

XO