"Too beautiful and too romantic to survive" in a world of tower blocks and concrete. That's what Sir John Betjeman said about this Victorian Gothic treasure and London's aptly named, just opened St.Pancras Renaissance Hotel. First opened in 1873 by Queen Victoria, the Midland Grand was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. It is said that the design evolved from 50 Continue Reading
True Colors
Picking up the June issue of Elle Decor, my eye stopped my hand at sight of the bright colors on the cover. I immediately associated them with Mary Douglas Drysdale's Signature Colors which we have just introduced at Casart Coverings...bright, vibrant, true colors! Mary says, "The colors I selected to use in my venture with Casart Coverings are colors which I have Continue Reading
Memorial Day…What Does It Mean?
It comes every year but what does Memorial Day mean?A long weekend, the end of school, the beginning of summer vacations, picnics, no mail delivery, concerts, fireworks...all things we associate with Memorial Day. But what is really the significance of this federal holiday which is observed on the last Monday in May?Originally known as Decoration Day, it Continue Reading
Read My Pins!
Madeleine Albright may not be a recognizable name unless you are of "a certain age" but you should read her pins.She is a former Secretary of State (the first woman to hold that office) and she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She was in New Orleans to open the New Orleans Museum of Art's exhibit of more than 200 pins from her collection, Continue Reading
Know Your Comfort Zone and Don’t Monkey Around
I had an idea, a working title called Know Your Comfort Zone and Don't Monkey Around and a rough draft when I opened Houzz and read Erika Ward's ideabook, Find Your Style, which stole my thunder. If you saw it, you'll enjoy re-visiting photos here. If you didn't, you're in for a treat when you read it.She used 8 pictures of white rooms to define casual, cool, Continue Reading
