A Gilded Christmas

Architecture
December 16, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! For some reason this year I am struggling to truly get into the Christmas spirit. It could be that we are not celebrating Christmas at our house this year, or it could be that it is 65 degrees outside. Now don’t get me wrong, I am so lucky to live in Charleston and will be extremely happy in February when it is freezing in New England and tolerable here, however, this time of year I could use a little bit of the “white christmas” feeling to put me in the mood. And let’s be honest, there is nothing like Gilded Age Newport Mansions draped in over the top Christmas decor to get one in the Christmas spirit. Built between 1892 and 1901, The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House are some of the finest examples of Gilded Age architecture in the country, and lucky for all of us, are open to the public. Between November 22nd and January 4th the Preservation Society of Newport County decorates the houses for Christmas, and based on these photos, the decorations are pretty spectacular. If you are anywhere near Newport, Rhode Island this holiday season, I would highly recommend a visit to these historic homes. For more information on touring the famed Newport Mansions, visit the Preservation Society of Newport County website.

Fooling Around with Firewood

Architecture
December 8, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! Hope everyone had a good weekend! It has finally gotten a a little chilly here in Charleston, so we can indulge in one of my favorite winter things … building a fire. When we moved to Charleston from our apartment in New York, I was so excited to have a fireplace, but for the majority of the year here in South Carolina that fireplace sits empty. So when it is finally just cold enough to justify having a fire, I’m psyched. Sitting in front of a fire on a cold evening, or having a fire in the fireplace while you entertain, just makes everything seem more festive. But where to store the wood? In our living room (above) we keep it in the bottom shelf of the built in bookcase, and similarly in the homes below, the owners have found inventive ways to keep their firewood close by. viaviaviavia

If you don’t have an obvious spot to keep your firewood, a couple of my favorite options are here, here, here, and here. Enjoy staying warm!

Historic Homestead to Home

Architecture
December 4, 2014

The Ludlow Homestead, c.1786, Claverack, New York. Owners Peter Spears and Brian Swardstrom purchased this beauty in 2009 and began a long restoration of this once grand home. While the two have a keen eye for period details, Spears was a Colonial American History major in college, they wanted to make the home comfortable and accessible. In an effort to remain true to the house and its origins, the couple tried to purchase antiques that had been made in the area, and would have been accessible to the original owners. I am most impressed by the duo’s use of color throughout the house, and their effort to use an historical color palate. As you can see in the photo above, the baseboard is painted black, a traditional 17th and 18th century paint technique which hid the scuff marks and dirt that would have been visible closer to the floor. The trim and cabinetry here is Farrow & Ball’s Buff.
The shutters at the Ludlow Homestead are Farrow & Ball’s Calke Green. For more photos and the whole story on the Ludlow Homestead, visit Elle Decor.

Photos via Elle Decor