Blank Slate

Living Room

I am a big believer in the jinx. Absolutely a knocker of wood, a thrower of salt and I’d be a over-the-shoulder spitter, too, if I thought I’d miss my jacket.

Dining Room
Let’s just say that, in theory, this is where I could be living mid-December.

Kitchen
If it isn’t hit by a meteor, lightening or an earthquake. Which could happen. Well, it could. I plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Family Room
I like the dark floors. I like the white walls. The light fixtures and fans? Not so much, which has the boys up in arms and they are lobbying heavily to keep their ceiling fans, “No one will see them but us!” Silly, young, naive things that they are, they think they have a chance. They do not.

Sun Porch (which will be my office)
I’m pushing furniture around in my head, of course, but sometimes I realize I’ve used the same chest twice or factored in tables that are mine only in fantasy.

Master Bedroom
Mr. Blandings has asked more than once, “Where will the Christmas tree go?” but that is too real, less dollhouse playing, so I just keep responding with, “Hmm…we’ll see.”

Master Bath
When we packed for the “in-between house” I told the boys to pack like they were going on a two-week vacation. Given these parameters Mr. Blandings stood, puzzled, looking at the stuff I was taking. “What’s all this?” “A dark dress in case there’s a funeral. A cocktail dress in case there’s a party. Three pairs of cowboy boots. Essentials.” He didn’t bother to ask about the file boxes of tear sheets.
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Enduring Styles – IMHO

One of the things that Emily Eerdsman and I discussed when she was here was current design books. I’m incredibly fond of Thomas Jayne’s The Finest Rooms in America and I brought along a copy to our lunch.

Many of the rooms that people included in the Enduring Style series are in the book; many, many of the much beloved rooms of the last couple hundred years are in the book.

I like having them all together, like having all your best friends able to celebrate your birthday.

I had thought I would not dip my toe in the Enduring Styles series, but I am adding Todd Romano’s apartment featured both in Elle Decor and New York Social Diary.

This apartment is not in Jayne’s book (Which I hate to point out, “Oh, we missed you at the Winthrops. Hmm..? What’s that? Not invited, oh dear.” No, I don’t mean to do that.) but it pops into my head so often. It was the one spot that I missed after a very satisfying read. (Goodness, this is coming out all wrong; more on Jayne’s book later. “Gertrude Winthrop how could you have not invited the Bullstrodes.” Absolutely not what I mean to imply.)

Romano’s home is just so darned elegant and comfortable at the same time. The Albers, the Queensware, the white walls and leopard. It makes me want to know him. That’s the point, right?
All images Elle Decor, January/February 2007; photography by Pieter Estersohn.
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Forever Mine

I won a cup. My enthusiasm for this gift would spill over its small confines and the fact that I have one has made me yearn for another. Two more, actually, which is my friend’s fault as she mentioned, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have three on the mantle?” Curses.

Seeped in Midwestern niceness, it seems too much to ask, so I have not filled out another request form. I have a little fantasy that at the end of the exhibit they will have just one left and I would actually be doing them a favor by offering to take it “forever.”

Emily Evans Eerdmans and I spent a lovely day together last weekend and I drove her by the old house, which has large taupe paint swatches on the living room walls, and to the Nelson to see the Twomey “Forever” exhibit among other things.

As Emily filled out her form I overheard a woman, about my age, explaining to the staff person that her son would take her cup upon her passing and that he had agreed to keep the cup forever as well. He looked up nodding earnestly.

When I surveyed the troops, all 1,345 cups (representative of the number of pieces in the Burnap collection, from which the inspiration of the cup was taken) it was difficult to not be impressed with the size of the original gift, with the significance its donors gave it and their belief that the collection would have value in perpetuity.

“Who remembers?” asked Mr. Blandings. “Who remembers what?” “That the entire collection has to be kept forever.” “They write things down.” But I wonder if that dark-haired boy, or any of my own, will remember such a promise as he sifts and sorts. Forever is a very long time.
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Bringing the World to You

The World of Madeleine Castaing. Leopard and turquoise and garden seats with a little black and white thrown in.

Really, I think we might have been friends.

Fortunately, Emily Evans Eerdmans, Castaing’s biographer, and I are friends and she’s coming to Kansas City to sign books on Friday. Emily will be at Parrin & Co., Barbara Farmer’s beautiful shop (pictured above) at 45th and State Line. All the shops will be open and, yes, I do think it will be a bit of a party.
Parrin & Co.
1717 W. 45th St.
4:30 – 7:30
I am going to try and be there most of the time (anything for a free drink) and would love to see you there. Give Barbara a ring if you have any questions – 816/753-7959. Copies of the book will be on hand for purchase.
Images, two top, from the World of Madeleine Castaing, photographs by Roland Beaufre.
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