Book Club, 2nd Edition

Michael S. Smith Houses
What we like:
Most of us would agree that Michael Smith is one of the best of the best. Named one of Architectural Digest's Top 100 Designers, and winner of Elle Decor's Designer of the Year (2003), he has mastered the lived-in-yet-luxurious California style. If interior designers received Academy Awards, I'm sure M.S. would have a few statuettes on his mantel.

Reading through this book is like sitting down with the designer over tea. He talks you through the design process of each house shown, and reveals sources of inspiration and his philosophy about what a home should be. You'll feel like a good friend is letting you in on his favorite trade secrets and ideas.

M.S. is an artist with fabric – his texture and pattern combinations are always intriguing and usually quite beautiful. His sofas and chairs look to be some of the most welcoming and comfortable that I think I've ever seen.

But he seems to lavish special attention on bedrooms.

"If you're going to spend a third of your life in bed, it might as well have a sense of ceremony. There's something special about a four-poster bed," and "Beds are for lounging, and I always make them super-comfortable, with plenty of pillows and a canopy."

I'd say, we could all use a little more ceremony in our lives.

Click on any image to see details.

The above photo is the master bedroom in M.S.'s own house. The bed curtains are made of his own fabric design, Indian Flower hemp, in blue. Monogrammed bed linens are by Porthault. He says he has stacks of books everywhere, and is often reading and doing research in bed, while the dogs run in and out, getting mud everywhere. Ok, that I can relate to. And, his TV is in plain sight. He says he rather likes the contrast of the high tech to gilt and marble.

Examples of M.S.'s determination and ingenuity: He couldn't find the perfect four-poster bed so had this one made from Georgian posts that he found; and the hemlock wall paneling, which adds instant history to the room, was bought at auction from a photograph and took an English craftsman three months to put together.

M.S. had this bed, in a guest room of his house, copied from a bed that was owned by the painter Balthus. Constructed of steel, it has a gilded top with curtains made of unbleached hemp. The throw pillow is made of antique chintz, walls are covered with a fabric of his design (for Cowtan & Tout) based on a Portuguese textile, the chair is upholstered in a Bennison chintz, and on the wall above: an Italian sunburst ecclesiastical piece.


In a departure for M.S., this guest room doesn't feature a canopy bed, but derives its drama from a massive painting (done by a student of Peter Paul Rubens!). A tray ceiling makes the room seem taller. The designer's own Naples chandelier, lower walls covered with his silk and linen check fabric (Cowtan & Tout), and the usual fantastic melange of fabrics, all lend to a cozy and comfortable space. I wonder, how does he ever get his guests to leave?

A guest room of a Malibu home features another canopy bed made of antique English bedposts. The bed hangings here, as usual, are lavishly tailored with pleats and lined with coordinating fabric. Mixing provenances (Italian lanterns, reproduction William Kent mirrors, and a Japanese table at the foot of the bed) lends to the feeling that the room has been decorated over time with furnishings that have been collected or handed down from previous generations. M.S. is fond of architectural details, like this deeply coffered ceiling.

The smaller image, above right, is the master bedroom of the same home, with a bed custom made for the designer by John Robshaw in India out of nickel silver. The coverlet is a Moroccan cotton rug.

Another totally different, yet fabulous guest room in a London apartment – this one is wrapped with a grisalle wallpaper by Zuber, and was inspired by a Christian Lacroix fashion show. I've always found gray interiors to be a bit depressing, but the claret red curtains here add a warming shot of style and crispness. The rich woods further elevate the mood of the room to a sanctuary of masculine elegance.

There are many more spaces to see in this book, but all are equally rich and detailed, and equally compelling.

The designer, with those rambunctious doggies! Interestingly, the dogs are facing M.S. in the photo, but the composition is perfect and makes for a wonderful portrait. This could be a handy trick to keep in mind next time you want to take photos with camera-shy pets – keep your hands on them and have them face you.


Portrait by Joao Canziani.
All other photos by Simon Upton.
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Michael S. Smith Houses by Michael S. Smith with Christine Pittel, Rizzoli New York, 2008

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Book Club

I'm finally getting caught up on some great new additions to my bookshelf. Here is the first in a series of mini-reviews.

Click on any image for a larger view.

Marie Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles
Why we like it:
Text by Christian Duvernois tells the fascinating story of Marie Antoinette's involvement in the creation of the gardens and structures of Trianon. You'll learn more about M.A.'s inner life and devotion to the natural world than her sensational public persona as the Queen of France. The author also discusses Trianon's significance in the history of architecture and landscape design. Exquisite photography by François Halard perfectly illustrates the moody scenery.

I wanted to show how nicely the book is designed, so I photographed several spreads.

This one includes a full-page photo of a detail of the interior of the Queen's Theater.


Rows of aerial hedges (my current garden obsession) march up to the lovely French Pavilion.
The gardens include fragrant roses in all shades of pink and white.

Trianon's French Garden was restored in 1992, and some of the cottages of the Hamlet have had facelifts, plus there are more extensive, ongoing preservation and restoration efforts being made. For more information, check out The Friends of Versailles.
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At top, the cover image is an interior view of the Belvedere.
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Photography by François Halard, Marie Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles by Christian Duvernois, Rizzoli New York, 2008.

Just Add a Pretty Ribbon

This year, I ran out of time to do a Holiday Gift List like last year's, so thought I'd do a quick one - based on my personal wish list.

If it's time to upgrade, why not choose the phone that is a work of art (and not settle for an inferior imitator).

Quelqu'un M'a Dit by Carla Bruni. Although she has a newer album out, this one has received better reviews and after listening to some of the songs, I thought I might like it better.

If I were going to invest in a bag that I wanted to last a re-a-ll-y long time, this would be it. In Florida, this would work year-round.

The Mini Cooper Convertible would please most anyone, I think, but of course, it has to be white.


These Scott Waterman "Looking Glass" paintings would be quite nice in any decor. The style feels like modern art, yet the imagery hints at ancient histories and dark stories.

Current Eliot Boyfriend - Super Love jeans look so great on SJP, I'm sure they'd look just as good on anyone else. (I might not wear mine quite this baggy, but I am just a beach girl at heart!)

I'm still fixated on these little notebooks from Astier de Villatte. I love the classic tile design covers, and they would be great gifts for any designer or architect. I believe they're available at John Derian, or if you're in the UK, you can pick them up here.

Here's hoping everyone has a bountiful holiday season. But don't forget, sharing a simple meal with friends and family can be the best gift of all!

I'm going to be changing tradition and cooking up a simpler menu, calling on my favorite chef, Ina Garten. A friend gave me the cookbook Barefoot in Paris, and some of her recipes have become part of my regular repertoire. (A big plus, she loves all things French!) See her new Axel Vervoordt inspired kitchen/barn over at Design Editor.

Her Boeuf Bourguignon recipe is a crowd favorite, and it's a one dish meal. And, I love the drama of setting my big Calphalon pot on fire! (The first time I made this, I thought the kitchen was going up in flames!) You'll have to read the recipe to find out what it's all about, but if you want a hint, the dish includes a bottle of Burgundy wine and a half cup of Cognac! You know it's got to be good! Add some crusty bread, an earthy salad, and some good wine, and you're ready to sit back and enjoy!

Happy Holidays!
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Next up, I'll be doing a year-end rundown on some great new books.
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Holiday Homes II

Of course, since I just said in my last post that I don't go for red and green holiday decor, my next inspiration home is ... red and green. But, the red is sparingly used here, and the primary scheme is really green and brown.

This is very much a "cabin in the woods," actually sitting along a creek in Colorado on 40 acres of land. What a great place to spend a white Christmas! The interiors, with all the ingredients of a femininized upscale vision of pioneer design – leather and lace and checks, with lots of silver and wood – were achieved with the help of Houston interior designer Beverly Jacomini.

Methinks the Gorsuch catalog could have been shot here.

Click on any image for a larger view.

Fortuny curtains and antique tapestry pillows like those above are beautiful enough to build a room around. A linen velvet sofa (in red!) seems like the perfect choice for this very cozy space.

Red roses are an unexpected choice for holiday decor, but add a refined edge to the mostly rustic surroundings. And even I have to love that red fringe on the checked chair seat. That's a Matisse lithograph hanging above.

In the dining room, branches (with pinecones attached) are draped across the cabinet, with little white lights and shiny ornaments for sparkle. Aren't those tooled leather upholstered armchairs with flirty pleated skirts just great?

More pine branches hang from a curtain rod in a bedroom, where masculine Schumacher black and white toile shams and a bright yellow Nancy Corzine silk duvet cover add a little luxury. Yellow and red striped parrot tulips are a long way from Holland, but look just right here.

A silver bowl holds silver and green ornaments. Simple gestures can say all that you need.

In this charming bedroom under the eaves, the towering branches are placed upright in a vase (with more red roses) on an antique Black Forest table with matching chairs. Old World Weavers crewel comforters and Chelsea Editions fabric on fringed pillow shams and shade evoke pioneer chic.

Curtains trimmed with Travers fringe frame the view into this woodland nook turned bathroom. More dramatic pine boughs are propped around the tub. Opulent fittings by Herbeau, silver canisters and lacy towels provide fine counterpoint to the twig furnishings.

I was especially inspired by the large pine tree branches, placed in most every room of this house. And I don't think you have to have a cabin in the woods to adapt this idea for your own holiday home.

Photos by Casey Sills for Veranda Magazine.
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Holiday Homes I

Here at Topsy Turvy we're not really into the typical red and green holiday decor, as you might guess. When it comes to poinsettias, I'll choose white over red any day. And the same goes for Amaryllis. I know red can be really rich and festive, but, for me, it just seems "too much." I believe that subtlety should never be under-rated.

I thought I'd show, in a series of posts, a few Christmas interiors that I have loved and remembered and that have provided a lot of inspiration for my own decorations.

Rather than glamour, I always go for natural greenery and rustic elements. Although I like a little silver and gold to add some sparkle to my normal scheme of white and brown, orange has always appealed to me, and it works so well as a splash of color because of the seasonal fruits that are available - oranges, kumquats and gorgeous persimmons. I like to place a large rustic basket, full of clove-studded oranges (they look and smell great!) and pinecones, on the dining table. A couple of kumquat trees in full fruit and planted in rustic terra cotta pots would be wonderful by a front door or inside an entry foyer.

One of my favorite interior designers, Stephen Shubel, has done up his 16th c Loire Valley home so beautifully in this color scheme, and I admit to borrowing freely from his ideas!

Please click on any image to enlarge.

Those orange curtains – how bold! – all aglow with the sunlight coming from behind, make a luscious combination with the Old World Weavers silk velvet leopard cushions, and the brown velvet pillows with gold embroidered coat of arms. A Napolean III chair, slipcovered sofa (from Habite, Paris) and ottoman in shades of white defer to the rustic architecture. For a fun idea (if your budget allows), change out your curtains for the holiday season!

This Christmas tree is perfection! I've searched high and low for one like this – can anyone tell me what kind of tree it is? I have purchased my tree online (a Fraser fir, in lieu of the above) for the last two years from Cartner Christmas Tree Farm in N.C. The trees are perfect, cut fresh the day you request delivery and come to your door in a very compact box, with stand, pre-drilled and ready to put up. It's so easy, and so worth it, if you're looking for the perfect, traditional tree. They last longer and drop fewer needles than any tree I've ever had. Of course, if I could find a tree like Shubel's .... I'd have to switch.

I'm also crazy about the oversize white plaster snowflake ornaments and white paper star on this tree. An idea I borrowed is the dried oranges - whole and sliced - hanging on the tree like ornaments. Those can be purchased from several sources online, and will last for at least a couple of years.

I spy my favorite white Amaryllis with silver, mercury glass and rustic accents, in this tabletop vignette. Also on display: 18th c creamware plates and platter, 19th c silverware, a silver Moroccan tagine, and a Moroccan textile runner.

The upstairs master bedroom has its own smaller-scale tree, and Shubel varied the scheme a bit here: he added deeper red-orange tree ornaments and introduced yellow-gold fabrics. The Louis XVI chair is upholstered in a luminous gold silk and a 19th c daybed sports a snappy gold and cream stripe cushion. The simple, wispy green wreath with sheer orange ribbon is more perfection. French iron garden stools serve as tables or as extra seating.

A wall of 19th c painted oak book cabinets stands in magnificently for headboards behind the twin beds. A gold silk coverlet and luxurious creamy vintage linens make this a napworthy spot. A painted side table from Morocco serves as a nightstand.

In the sunroom, a painted pine desk (c.1900) holds a collection of quirky and charming flea market finds, and nearby built-in bookshelves are stacked with antique books in more shades of white. The 18th c lamp base has a shade covered with antique papers. This room is decorated for the holidays with a simple rustic pot of white blooming hellebores and a ribbon or two.

More white potted hellebores and silver ornaments add a little Christmas spirit to the bath. A 19th c pine demilune, a 19th c plaster bust of Marie Antoinette, stacks of fluffy white towels and a Swedish Empire-style painted chair add my kind of luxury to this rustic space. Flooring is 16th c terra cotta tiles.

Shubel refers to his style as eclectic and unassuming, and that suits me to a tee. Check out his portfolio here, and then grab a copy of the newest House Beautiful (Jan. 09) to take a look at his interpretation of a more modern and hip interior with bold patterns - a home created for a young fashion-conscious client.

Photos by Thibault Jeanson for Veranda Magazine.
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Make Mine Haut, Please

Vosges La Parisienne Couture Cocoa*

Tis the season for hot chocolate!

I have to confess that I've been drinking hot chocolate every morning since I had to give up coffee. It seems a little decadent for every day, doesn't it? After a little trial and error, I've come up with a method that works well, I think, for a quick cup. Normally I use regular Hershey's Cocoa (not the extra dark, it's way too dark!) If you use a better quality cocoa, like Mariebelle or Vosges,* you might want to adjust the ingredients to taste. The secrets to the success of this recipe: the whisk and the Half And Half (did I mention that this is not low-cal?)

• Fill a mug 3/4 full with milk (I use skim)
• Microwave for 2 minutes
• Remove from the micro
• Add 1 tablespoon of sugar (you can add more if desired) and
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa
• Mix well. I discovered that using a whisk (a narrow one that fits inside the mug) to mix up the cocoa dissolves the powder so much quicker and better, and creates a nice little froth.
• Fill mug with Half And Half, and whisk a bit more
• Microwave for another minute

Gently swirling the hot chocolate in the mug as you drink keeps the cocoa from settling. If you'd like, you can add a dash of vanilla flavoring or cinnamon when you add the cocoa. Of course, whipped cream topping would be great, too.

Cozy up to the fire, and have a cup for me!

* Vosges La Parisienne Couture Cocoa was voted by Rachel Ray as the #1 hot chocolate, out of 75 contenders.
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Peace, Love & Chocolate

I can't think of many things better than chocolate and books. So, that's what I'll be giving for Christmas this year. Fortunately, most of my friends agree.

There's also the option of challenging your mind while satisfying your chocolate craving – all at once. Vosges Haut-Chocolate has some of the most interesting flavor combinations around. Chocolate and chile? Chocolate and anise? How edgy! Founder Katrina Markoff was recently named a "chocolate visionary" by Food & Wine Magazine, and she's got to be one smart lady. The concept and marketing is very clever, the packaging is pretty and the chocolates are organic and out-of-this-world scrumptious.

And how fitting that she also offers Exotic Chocolate Bar Libraries. I'll need to have some custom mini-bookshelves fitted for my kitchen to hold the entire collection, as I'll want to do lots of studying in this library!
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Hyde Park and Bayshore Blvd.

I wanted to share a few more scenes of Hyde Park and Bayshore Blvd. from the recent kitchen tour.

This house is right on Bayshore Blvd. I love the beautiful windows.

A corner view of the same house.

Nearby is this very stately Georgian mansion.

Its symmetry and classical columns lend a formal feel.

A two-story mediterranean. The houses along Bayshore tend to be more grand than those on the side streets.

This home is about a block off of Bayshore, and typical for the area – smaller bungalows on small lots, but loaded with charm.

I love the exterior color palette that the owner (the charming Laurie) chose for her home - pale khaki walls with white and french blue-gray trim. And the purples and pinks of the flowers in the planters add more softness. The generous proportions of the porch give a wide-open and welcoming feel as you approach. This house is so graceful, yet not at all pretentious, and is one of my favorites. Notice those beautiful french doors to the left of the entry.

My friend, Rebecca, (take a look at her wonderful photography over at Boxphotos) on Bayshore Blvd. (Happy birthday, Becky!) Running right by the road, in the background along the balustrade, is the world's longest continuous sidewalk – about four and a half miles. Joggers, bikers and skaters love the route, with sky and water (the real and only Tampa Bay) on one side and grand historic homes on the other. Bayshore Blvd. starts near downtown Tampa, and extends south towards MacDill Air Force Base (this view is south). The annual Gasparilla pirate invasion and parade happens right here too. You won't find me in the area when that happens on Feb. 7 - I'll be at home, away from the crowds. The scene will be much different then from what you see above! Can you picture throngs of parade-goers, drunken pirates and ships firing off cannons?

All photos by Topsy Turvy. Please click on any image to enlarge.
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