Luxe for Less: double gourd lamp
Perfection in Mixing High (mostly) with Low
Incredible Lake Austin front weekend home of Shabby Slips Houston owner in this month's PaperCity Houston.
IKEA drapes in the bedroom. The Shabby Slips chests are outfitted with door knockers. The antelope-printed carpet is from Creative Flooring Resources
Restoration Hardware bedding
more draped from IKEA
The couple does not cook much so all they did to the kitchen was to add a cooktop, Sub Zero and honed granite counters.
Renea Abbott and husband, Greg Manteris.
patio furniture from Restoration Hardware
Boscobel
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| Boscobel from the South (garden) |
Boscobel (Build 1808), a wonderful old estate and garden, also the summer home of a Shakespeare festival, sits high up above the Hudson, in Garrison, NY, near Cold Springs. The mansion once belonged to a gentleman and his family, who came to money, perhaps not in the most honorable way, which sounds not that unusual. He became one of the first millionaires. He build himself an amazingly large house, but never lived to see it. After completion, his wife and son moved there and in succession the only granddaughter with fifteen children.
The house was eventually abandoned in the 1890 and stood empty until the Forties, when it was bought by the State of New York. Fortunately the house was saved by a Foundation, which secured the house, moved it to it's current location and restored the
place in the most detail oriented fashion.
The mansion today houses the largest collection of Federal style original furniture and brings an era to life from long ago.
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| In the foreground the Constitution Marsh, behind the Hudson and West Point Academy |
Not only this, the grounds have been build 1961 to complement the setting high above the Hudson with magnificent views, the former owners could have only dreamed of.
At the time of designing the gardens the trees and shrubberies were planted mature, so the impression of an old, settled in estate is absolutely perfect!
The rose garden holds many beautiful species and this year, so I have been told, it has a record on rose blossoms.
The orangery is a charming addition and the herb garden a delight.
The grounds are completed by an apple orchard and a lake with a large fountain...
The labor of love... Speaking of:
We are going to see Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost, a pleasure I can't wait to indulge in!
When you're in the area, it would be a wonderful addition to any tour along the Hudson.
All images by Victoria Zlotkowsi
Unique Bathroom Tile Ideas Picture
Unique Bathroom Tile Ideas Picture
Summer weeks
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| Last year's summer...they all have grown! |
Since yesterday our children are off to happy summer days. Traveling plans, hatched out many long months ago, came finally true, our youngest one at sleep away camp for the first time. Our next older daughter away in Europe.
What are parents to do without kids? Enjoy the gift of extra time.
No calls for this and that, no breakfast on time, not too much laundry, reading on the deck without being mocked for spending yet another boring hour with a book?!
Spending time with friends at a spontaneous dinner invitation? Heavenly!
Out in town with my husband, not caring for timely returns home to make sure everybody is off to bed....in other words: A few precious weeks of childless, care free summer days.
Do not get me wrong, we love to spend time with our growing children, but after a year of parental chores, checking, cleaning, cooking, prepping and grooming, we are as much in need of a break as our beloved offspring, who are telling us gleefully, that spending time away from everybody in the family is the best thing that happened since last year at this time....
And so, here we are, happy as kids in a candy store, enjoying the well deserved break from parental responsibilities.... until a phone call early this Sunday morning wakes us from sweet innocent slumber: Our son cannot find his contact lenses, please advise....
And off I go, explaining in detail where I stashed the goods in his massive trunk...
Never a dull moment!
Happy summer days to all!
Picture private.