Dovecote

One of my favorite stops while in Conn. is the fabulous store Dovecote.

It's located in Westport, a chic town on the New York Sound. The store itself is located at the end of Main Street in a 120 year old building that was once the Westport Opera House. Today Dovecote is nestled in between Tiffany's and a high end linen's shop. Nothing like diamonds, antique French chandeliers and sumptuous linens to cap off a day of shopping.

Back to the store, my first impression was Mecox Gardens meets Kelly Wearstler.
The shops founder, Sarah Kaplan loves mixing different styles- French Country, Modern, Hollywood Regency, Preppy, and more. And its no wonder the store is so tasteful, Sarah was a buyer at Neiman Marcus & Barney's New York before diving into the boutique world.

Sarah says she is "obsessed with mirrors, chairs and chandeliers" and these truly are the shining stars of the shop. I have never seen so many gorgeous antique French crystal chandeliers hanging in one space... and all sizes too, some even in pairs.






One of my favorites from this last trip was a pair of vintage French leather club chairs, all crackly and cozy similar to these below.




She also has some fabulous taupe linen chairs for those more Axel-minded than KWID.




Several of these antique armoire beauties are in the store.




Besides this very unique antique secretary, the chandelier with the turquoise drops is stunning. I bought a similar vase as a Christmas present while there.



As you may have noticed by now, this store is an animal print lovers dream. Many of the upholstered items are in various prints, though for a more subtle gesture Dovecote also has some gorgeous and plush throw pillows.






Since I was there on Christmas Eve day, my focus was more on the smaller gift items. It was very hard to choose between the wonderful design and art books, the pretty glass vases, the rock crystal votives, and the candy-colored pashminas. Not to mention the small leather goods from Baekgaard or the Mrs. John L. Strong stationary.

Baekgaard Checkbook Cover


As if this designers utopia was not enough, Dovecote has even more gems. Literally. A whole section of the shop is designated to gorgeous jewelry that to my delighted surprise ranged from $ to $$$.

So are you ready to purchase that plane ticket and head to 56 Post Road East yet???

Here are some of Dovecote's design basics:

Ms. Kaplan has obviously put her good tips to work in her own home...

Country Home March 2004

Three of my favorite Dovecote elements around a cozy fire: vintage leather club chair, French Bergere chair, large leopard print throw pillows...

Connecticut Cottages and Gardens November 2005

A similar fireplace in the house, though a totally different look. The gilt mirror is a great juxtaposition to the Mies van der Rohe daybed (a vintage I assume).

Connecticut Cottages and Gardens November 2005

The Dining Room is very elegant... could it be the crystal chandelier or the hint of pink silk curtains or the elegant settee?!?

Country Home March 2004

I love when people bring their decorating into the Kitchen, as Sarah has here with another chandelier, small artworks on the walls, and open shelves and cabinets to display cookbooks and china. Notice how the white & silver modern barstools blend perfectly into the mix of the room.

Connecticut Cottages and Gardens March 2005

Country Home March 2004

The Kaplan's Master Bedroom. So practical to have a darker colored bedspread to accommodate dogs. Something I myself should especially take to heart; its a never-ending battle with paw prints on my white bedspread & duvet!!!

I love the addition of the printed throw pillows (Bennison I believe, which is carried through Dovecote) and the striped silk curtains.

Country Home March 2004

Just as in the Kitchen, the Bathroom is given special treatment with a salvaged claw-foot tub and framed Fred Stein photographs. The orchid brings the perfect splash of refreshment and color to the room.

Country Home March 2004

*All images from www.dovecote-westport.com.*

Like Martha, Like Mother

When Martha was in jail, I swore my mother was trying to take her spot during the holidays. I had never seen so many decorations oozing out of every nook and cranny...

My parents are "Connecticuters" living in a traditional home filled with a collection of antiques, inherited treasures, and handmade crafts and artwork.

Zen and Belgian styles have been my mothers thing lately so this past year was more subdued. I think this is much to my father, an architect and builder's delight. Between the two of them and their definitive ideas and design requirements it is truly a huge accomplishment if something passes both of their taste tests successfully. This is not so much a compliment but a fact.

The Entry, with its celadon green stair runner, white poinsettias, green garland, and papier-mache Dorothy shoes that my sister made when she was in grade school.

A collection of antique inkwells.

Tree decorating is a serious event in this household that only a qualified tree decorator can do. My mother has always been the only one qualified!

The coffee table is an antique farmhouse table that my parents shortened and one of their antique blue willow platters is always atop it . Since no traditional home can be without some glitz and glam, the white feather wreath floats in front of the window like snow.

A drawing that my cousin made for my parents when they were first married hangs above another antique chest. The blue and white platter is a recent addition from my sister, who brought it back from Granada, Spain.

The Dining Room, post-party. The seats of these Chippendale chairs have been covered and recovered so many times over the years whenever a new fabric caught my mother's eye. The natural linen on them now is my favorite.

My sisters and I each had a dollhouse growing up... it probably was not a surprise that I became a designer as I "remodeled" and even added an addition to mine with a roof-deck and all. The furniture styles changed over time as well... country (age 5) to a pastel-ish chintz theme (age 8) to a sophisticated celadon silk/white leather/mahogany theme... hmm should I put photos of those in my portfolio? "Early Works". Ha ha.

Another vignette in the Dining Room with a tilt-top table inherited from my Southern grandparents and a modern watercolor by Paul Jenkins.

The fireplace mantle decorated with silver and gold grapes, my mother's passion du jour.

The guest bedroom, which was mine once upon a much more brightly decorated time! I really think I decreased the square footage of the room with how many paint colors I had in here over the years. At least I got my color experimenting over with early!

As soon as I left for college, the room was reclaimed and the shabby chic look prevailed.

Vintage Victorian prints, check.
White Wicker, check.
Iron and brass bed, check.
Christmas decorations all over the house, check.

A chair that was my Southern grandmothers, with now-vintage chintz fabric she selected for it in the 1960's (though it was only reupholstered recently). It totally works with the shabby chic look of the bedrooms. And the luscious black Coach purse updates it perfectly, don't you think?

Another vignette, in the only non-navajo-white room in the house. Strike that, the other rooms are navajo white cut in half, then cut in half again, and finally cut in half again. Particularity is hereditary, and I've got it coming from both sides. That's my story.



Bookshelves, an antique high-chair that would be so not-legal today, and a painting I did in high school. Design and flowers, some loves never change!




The kitchen chalkboard. We used it as kids, now my mom uses it. I honestly don't know who has enjoyed it more.

I love the idea and look of a chalkboard and turned a flea-market frame into one that now hangs in my own kitchen.

A pretty plate is framed on the wall.

One of the basement treasure finds, these bronze figurine lamps. Despite how much they dress up the surroundings on the basement floor, I think they might look even better in my living room!

London Paris Rome Ridgefield

My holiday vacation from blogging was spent in one of my favorite places and where I grew up, the perfect little town of Ridgefield, Connecticut (as you can tell, I have absolutely no bias whatsoever).

Ridgefield is the quintessential New England town- it has a charming Main Street lined with beautiful colonial homes, churches with shiny white steeples, and many lovely shops and restaurants. Most of these shops and restaurants are owned and staffed by Ridgefielders and have been there for generations... you are guaranteed to see someone you know when out and about!

The church steeple above is on the church where my husband and I were married the summer before last. The marble fountain is quite the landmark and is so pretty when the water is on and blooming flowers are planted around it.

Keeler Tavern , one of the many historical attractions in town. It was a home turned tavern and inn pre-Revolutionary War. It is now a museum and landmark.

But don't let all this quaintness fool you,, this town of 24,000 has its posh side too... its the home of the renowned Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art and is only an hour north of NYC. Ridgefield is also home to several well known celebrities.

Obviously, its not quite as green this time of year as some of the above photos imply! This is a slightly more accurate idea of what it looks like now.


I oohed and aahed and loved every minute while home in this perfect little town with my almost perfect family (ha ha), and finagled my sister into chauffeuring me around for a house tour. To anyone who may have seen some stranger with a digital camera in their driveway or creepily slowing down in front of their house, please take it as a compliment!



I loved the Robin's Egg Blue front door of this house... especially with the pine garland and wreath.



This is the home of one of my very very very best friends parents... I've been friends with her since 1st grade. Being the style maven that she is, she obviously had to have come from a super cute and stylish home like this!

The required white picket fence is only surpassed by the perfectly pink front door and avocado shutters. I think this paint job is relatively new and it makes the house stand out more than I can ever remember.

I love this Hampton's style painted shingle house with its natural shingle roof. Its so pretty. I feel like the Barefoot Contessa must be somewhere inside!

Caroline's Dream Farmhouse, or in other words the one house my sister did not mind slowing down for! This is an older home that just exudes New England charm. The horribly overcast light of the day is making the shutters look black, though they are really dark hunter green. I think its a slate roof (?). The rock wall is an authentic colonial wall...these run rampid all over Connecticut!

A barn near my parents house that belongs to another colonial era home. The property also has a pond which we would ice skate on when we were little, though No Trespassing signs sadly prohibit young Ridgefielders from doing that now.

This is one of my favorite houses. I've always loved its salmon pink color scheme...the Bahamas has come to Ridgefield!

And lastly, my absolute favorite - my parents home. Its been the stage for my quirky family's adventures for 20+ years and is filled with antiques, family heirlooms, and an insane amount of treasures in the storehouse that is the basement. Up next are some of the interior decorations of my mother, more affectionately known as Martha-in-the-Making!