In the constellation of twentieth-century American society, no star glittered quite like Babe Paley (1915–1978). Born Barbara Cushing in Boston — one of the famed “Cushing Sisters,” whose marriages connected them to American dynasties — she rose to become not merely a socialite but a myth: the woman who defined what it meant to beContinue reading “Babe Paley: The Perfection of Style”
Author Archives: My World of Interiors
Edgar Allan Poe: The Architect of American Shadows
Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) remains one of the most singular figures in American letters: poet, critic, short story pioneer, and gothic visionary. His life, brief and tumultuous, has long been folded into the myth of his work — the impoverished genius, the tragic outsider, the writer of haunted tales who himself died mysteriously. But Poe’sContinue reading “Edgar Allan Poe: The Architect of American Shadows”
Elsa Schiaparelli: The Surrealist Couturière
In the history of twentieth-century fashion, few figures embody the dialogue between art and clothing as vividly as Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973). A Roman aristocrat turned Parisian visionary, she transformed couture into Surrealist theatre, collaborating with artists like Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau, and Man Ray. To wear Schiaparelli was not simply to be dressed — itContinue reading “Elsa Schiaparelli: The Surrealist Couturière”
Happy Holidays — A Gentle Closing to the Year
As the year draws to a close, the world seems to take a collective breath. Lights appear in windows, familiar songs drift through cafés and streets, and small rituals — old and new — begin to unfold. The holidays have a way of gathering time together, inviting us to look back as much as weContinue reading “Happy Holidays — A Gentle Closing to the Year”
Other People’s Houses -FLW Woodland Utopia
Other People’s Houses – Alice Temperley
Carmel-by-the-Sea: California’s Fairytale Coastline
There are places in California where time feels suspended — where the Pacific crashes against rugged cliffs, where cypress trees twist in sculptural forms, and where cottages look as though they’ve stepped out of a storybook. Carmel-by-the-Sea, perched on the Monterey Peninsula, is such a place: equal parts seaside village, cultural retreat, and gateway toContinue reading “Carmel-by-the-Sea: California’s Fairytale Coastline”
The Spirit of Giving: A History of Love and Joy at Christmas
Beyond decorations, feasts, and gifts, Christmas has always carried a deeper promise: the idea of love and joy shared in the darkest season. Across centuries and cultures, the holiday has been a time when generosity became ritual, kindness a tradition, and joy a collective act. Medieval Charity In the Middle Ages, Christmas was a momentContinue reading “The Spirit of Giving: A History of Love and Joy at Christmas”
Light in Darkness: The Symbolism of Christmas Illumination
At the heart of Christmas lies a paradox: it is a winter festival defined not by abundance of daylight, but by its absence. The long nights of December, when the sun lingers low and the world feels suspended, have always demanded light as response. Candle, lantern, and flame: these are not mere decorations, but ritualsContinue reading “Light in Darkness: The Symbolism of Christmas Illumination”
A Christmas of Light
At the heart of Christmas is light: candle flames against the dark, lanterns in windows, fairy lights strung through trees. More than decoration, light is symbol — of hope, of renewal, of winter’s end. Candlelight Rituals In Scandinavia, Saint Lucia’s Day crowns a girl with candles to banish the darkness. In churches, midnight mass glowsContinue reading “A Christmas of Light”
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