Normally, lunch for me during our busy fall and holiday season is a few quick bites squeezed in between appointments. So I couldn’t wait to attend the elegant Committee of 100 annual luncheon a few weeks ago at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. I love this benefit event, which … [Read more...]
Summer Bedrooms at Mary Lou’s Cottage
I’m amazed any of our neighbors are still speaking to us. We’ve tried their patience sorely with our painfully slow renovation of the little cottage next door. But now, the eyesore of the neighborhood is close to becoming the sweet little cottage I envisioned.Christened Mary Lou’s Cottage in … [Read more...]
Warm Metals Melt My Heart
The other day my niece texted me: “Aunt Mary Carol, I’m having a debate with a friend, and we need your help to decide who is right. Is brass back in style?” There was a bottle of wine at stake, so I couldn’t let her down. “Yes, brass is back in!” I assured her. Her swift reply: “You just won me a … [Read more...]
A New Lamp Is a Bright Idea
Every time I walked past the little bar cart in my living room, something just bugged me. Something was off about the display. It looked nice, but didn’t wow me. Then I put my finger on it. It needed a new lamp.The white lamp I had on the bar cart just didn’t add much to the display, so I … [Read more...]
Bathrooms Get Cottage Charm Makeover
Sometimes, I look at photos of homes with large, lovely, almost palatial bathroom spaces, and sigh wistfully. As a lover of historic homes, big bathrooms are not a reality for me, unless I knock out a lot of walls. But I have found that just because your home has little bathrooms doesn’t mean they … [Read more...]
Bring Your Personality to Life in Your Decor
The secret to creating a beautiful home isn’t in cloning a big-name designer’s style, or washing a room in the latest trend. It’s about thoughtfully constructing a space that celebrates the people who live there. Our design choices should not only be inspired by today’s “it” color palettes or … [Read more...]