A Room with a View: Old Westbury Gardens

(OId Westbury Gardens - South Terrace)A long allée bordered by towering linden trees stretch out from the gates to the entrance of Westbury House, framing its Charles II façade.  Tall imposing iron gates announce that you’re now entering a secluded and spectacular estate known as Old Westbury Gardens located in the very exclusive village of Old Westbury in Long Island. Old Westbury Gardens is so picturesque it’s been chosen for the settings of several movies, including Love Story and Age of Innocence.

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To sea, to sea: Nautical Weddings

May and June are lovely for flower-saturated weddings and garden parties, but when July hits its hot stride it's best to look to the sea. An actual beach wedding is not necessary, because even if one cannot enjoy the offshore breezes in person, they certainly can channel the briny deep with truly nautical nuptials.

A perennial favorite - what is more romantic than the sea? - the risk of planning nautical nuptials is the risk of skittering into kitsch. It is a theme that can be taken too far, with piles of shells on the tables and netting and buoys hanging from the wall. It is better to keep it simple with these rules:

1) Let the venue work for you. Marinas, yacht clubs, seaside restaurants, and banquet halls are typically designed with a marine feel in mind.

Bay Head Yacht Club by Kris Arnold on Flickr

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Dream State - the New Dali Museum

(Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL)Slithering across the humid, subtropical landscape like the pocket watches in Persistence of Memory, the Dali Museum recently opened its new building in St. Petersburg, Florida. The surreal architecture boasts of a glass geodesic structure flowing freely in and out of a box building. Architect Yann Weymouth of HOK Architects who conceived the design was inspired by the organic dreamlike paintings of Salvador Dali. 

(Salvador Dali)Dali was born in Catalonia, Spain in 1904, studied at the Academy in Madrid, and eventually moved to Paris where he met Picasso and artists of the surrealist art movement.

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Twilled: Real Decorating for Real People: The Paint Problem

Let’s say you’ve decided to finally do something about that troublesome room---the guest room you’re trying to create from your college kid’s bedroom, or the study that’s been ignored far too long. Or you’ve just moved to a new place, and you want a fresh start with a fresh look. Often, the place to begin with any major decorating project is with painting the walls. 

And that’s the thought that makes many people shrink back in fear, hang a few large pictures on the wall, and hope that the world ends before anything needs to be done about it.

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The Blush of a June Bloom

June is one of the most popular months for marriages in the US, and has been for decades. With the near-assuredness of summer warmth without the heat and humidity of July and August, June is a dainty lady. Outdoor weddings are popular in June, as couples take full advantage of some of the year's best weather.

Perhaps more than any other reason, however, June appeals to brides for it's incredible floral abundance. While modern farming and shipping allows for almost any bloom, at almost any time, anywhere, seasonal blooms are preferred for cost reasons. In the US there are few months, if any, that offer more seasonal blooms than June.

Delphinium, a beautiful purple-blue flower popular in large, English-style gardens, blooms in early summer and makes for a dramatic wedding flower. A hardy, long stem supports endless clusters of the delicate petals, perfect for a draped bouquet. Delphinium comes in shades of lavender but can be found in a rich, cobalt blue - a rare flower indeed, and hard to beat for drama.

(Delphinium via Aunt Owwee on Flickr)

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