In the Conservatory with a watering can...

I'm really into the idea of a conservatory of late; a quiet glassed-in sunroom to grow your plants. When I went home over the weekend, my parents were thinking about one as their latest project/yard time-sucker. They've all but abandoned my dreams them having a swimming pool but I'm still hanging on. I think the idea of a really sweet conservatory is a great one, though. A quiet sanctuary for your plants, to relax with a book while the sun is shining in on you.

This Edwardian style conservatory is by Parish Conservatories. I'd love to have a brick cottage with a little conservatory off the side. Just lovely.

This is from Nancy McCabe's garden which was on the Trade Secrets Garden Tour. Hers was a beautiful rustic style garden with many Spanish influences.

Bunny Williams had a very classic one off of her guest cottage with much architectural detailing and a large sideboard in it to accommodate her large potted plants. I love the repeating arches.

This is from Renaissance Conservatories, a company that specializes in custom conservatories. I like this round one with the clerestory windows on top.

This very classic one is also nice. It's more of a sunroom though than a room for your plants etc. I love the architectural detailing though. Also from Renaissance Conservatories.
This one is NOT QUITE my style (at all) as those windows are NOT ATTRACTIVE, but I love the floor. It looks like the conservatory from the board game Clue! Right? How badly do you want to play Clue right now?

I'm really embracing gardening and plants lately and this conservatory is the perfect mix of interior design and gardening. There are so many different styles you could go with and many fun garden accessories to add. Garden urns, exotic plants, amazing architecture, the possibilities are growing!


Alicia B.

Trade Secrets Weekend

This weekend I'm so excited to be volunteering at Trade Secrets. Trade Secrets is an annual Garden Tour and gardens/antiques show founded by Bunny Williams with all the benefits going to Women's Support Services. It is held in one of the most beautiful places in Connecticut, Sharon. I'll be helping out on Saturday and then stalking, I mean going on a garden tour at Bunny Williams house! What a treat!

OMG! Moss covered frogs!!?? This might be more than I can handle...

I'm so excited to see all the fun garden accessories: topiary, watering cans, garden furniture from Treillage, you name it! It is also rumored that Martha goes every year--maybe I can help her out! Has anybody been to this before? Planning on going?


Alicia B.

Oscar de la Renta: Swoon

I just got the new Vogue for this month and of course flipped DIRECTLY to the spread on Oscar De La Renta's home in Connecticut. No, he's not an interior designer, but interior design and fashion work incredibly close together. It's so interesting to watch the trends work off each other. Anyway, Oscar De La Renta is an incredible designer, let's just get that out of the way because it's obvious. His house in the Connecticut countryside (as well as his wife) is gorgeous/adorable. Take a look:

In the article, he loved the house but his wife didn't so he "gave" her the bedroom because it is her favorite room. Isn't that so sweet? Look at the incredible architectural detailing here. The bed isn't really my taste (a little bit to frou frou) but it looks perfect for his adorable and elegant wife.

He uses more of that floral motif (as in the bedroom above) in the wallpaper here and it matches the drapery as well. And on the right, that chair is so classic and weird; I love it.

This style might not be everyone's taste, but I think it's beautiful. If you look at every little bit of this room, each part is so personal. You can really tell that each object has been collected; it might have a special meaning or a story to it. Plus, how can you not love the mouldings and the slightly rounded ceiling in this room? I DIE.

Oscar (we're now on a first name basis) says that he bought the house for the view/property that it was on. Well played ODLR. Well played.


Alicia B.