Book Suggestion: Blue and White

A Passion for Blue & White by Carolyne Roehm

Style-setter Carolyne Roehm showcases her favorite color combination in more than three hundred glorious photographs in this private tour of her homes. From the time Roehm rented her first one-bedroom apartment in New York in her twenties until today (she now owns a magnificent duplex in Manhattan, an antique-filled stone house in Connecticut, and a chic yet rustic home in Aspen), she has loved blue and white. All of her homes contain rooms decorated in blue and white, featuring accents from her collections of china, ceramics, glassware, linens, furniture, and decorative pieces and employing the whole spectrum of blues. She also reveals how she has so effectively used blue and white outdoors in Connecticut around her pool and in her gardens.

Finally, get tips from Roehm on tabletop design, flower arranging, and gift-wrapping, suitable for all budgets.

Book Suggestion: Inspired Gardens

The Inspired Garden: Twenty-Four Artists Share Their Vision

This book offers a tour of 24 private gardens in New England along with interviews with the artists who designed them. Wonderfully picturesque, The Inspired Garden explains the artistic principles that not only underlay arts like painting and sculpture but also garden design. Highly informative about garden creation, this book is also an inspiration to those who are contemplating a creation of their own.

Book Suggestion: Blue and White

Decorating With Blue and White: Classic and Contemporary Interiors, from Mediterranean to Country Blue by Gail Abbott

Gail Abbott’s beautiful book shows how the fresh combination of blue and white is a classic design partnership with numerous variations. She suggests that there is a shade to suit every room and every mood and divides blues into chapters according to their character: Classic Blues have stood the test of time. Country Blues showcase informal settings. Jewel Blues illuminate the intense depth of color. Coastal Blues reflect the soft shades of the sea. Outdoor Blues are inspired by nature. Abbott also reveals how to display your blue-and-white treasures. Photographed by Mark Scott in homes around the world, this book features classic and informal interiors, and traditional and contemporary houses.

Book Suggestion: Shed Chic

Shed Chic: Outdoor Buildings for Work, Rest, and Play

Writer Sally Coulthard discusses the multitude of purposes, ranging from play space for children to guest quarters, that private garden sheds can accommodate. Shed Chic highlights case studies and offers technical guidelines for infrastructures, as well as including a detailed directory of companies, architects, and decorating resources. This beautifully illustrated guide is the perfect way to inspire someone who is thinking of adding a shed to his or her property.

Book Suggestion: Blue and White

Blue & White: Chinese Porcelain Around the World by John Carswell

John Carswell’s copiously illustrated book traces the history and evolution of blue and white in China, first during the Yan dynasty in the 14th century. The 15th century brought ideas and influences from the Islamic world, and from the 16th century on, collecting became a passion and was a major influence. The beautiful illustrations in this book are from museums and private collections around the world, including some never before published.

Getting ready for Emma: Berry Basket Tags

As we get ready for our Box Hill Picnic in August, your humble webmistress thought it might be fun to get ready for Emma by immersing ourselves in some fun and interesting Emma-related tidbits.

This tidbit comes to us from Victoria Magazine: Berry Basket Tags

Add a vintage touch to containers of fresh summer berries by attaching this colorful tag with ribbon or cording. Write your guests’ names on the tags to use as place cards, or present the berries as party favors at the end of the evening. Downloadable Berry Basket Tags

For more detailed information and project instructions, see “Nostalgic Party Touches,” on page 24 of the July/August 2010 issue of Victoria magazine. This project was designed by Victoria’s Artist-in-Residence, Olivia Kanaley. You can view more of Olivia’s work on her blog, “A Field Journal,” at afieldjournal.blogspot.com.

Beau Brummell would be proud!

Victoria Mag Artist-in-residence--Livy-- has done it again! On her website, A Field Journal , Livy shows us how to make the men on our life stylish and gentlemanly with her creative craft. Please visit her site for the wonderful how-to!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hey Janeites---A beautiful way to celebrate the day is to make silhouettes of your loved ones, such as these by Livy of A Field Journal, who is now the Artist in Residence for Victoria Magazine.