Living with Meaning, Creativity and The Natural World

Aside from bonding over our collegiate sailing experiences, my friend Meredith Ewenson (@meredithewenson) and I have continued to share a deep connection to and reverence for the natural world.

The ocean and mountains in particular, have shaped me as an individual and continue to bring joy, creativity and a certain re-grounding to my life. Even in my lonely, dark moments, nature has played a supporting role. My husband and I immediately connected over our mutual love of the outdoors and its constant force in our respective lives. Nothing thrills me more than a quiet woodland walk surrounded by lush ferns and moss, or the exhilaration of the first summer swim with its salty sting.

Meredith invited me on her podcast to talk about the story behind Citrus and Cedars, fostering a life (and business) surrounded by meaning, asking the all important "Why?" and much, much more.

In part, this conversation was pure therapy for me, at a time where our world feels so heavy.

LISTEN HERE if you so desire.

Here’s to surrounding yourself with all things green!

Photography Credit: Apparition

The C&C Gift Guide: 2021 Edition

It’s that time of year again — The C&C Gift Guide. I’m really focused on a less is more mentality and shopping for items that truly spark joy, bring beauty and practicality. I enjoy gifting pieces that stand for quality, craftsmanship and tradition. Below are a few items I am currently coveting. Enjoy!

CeCe Barfield’s Étoile Cocktail Napkins are jazzy and chic. Their hand cut edges and festive star motif are playful and pleasing to any aesthete. They make for the perfect hostess gift, or better yet, buy for yourself! Shop here.

Quite frankly, anything from Kate Rheinstein Brodsky’s Upper East Side shop is a sure thing, but this candle wrapped with its camo-botanical packaging is divine. Its black matte vessel and clean scent is most certainly #candcapproved. Shop here.

This vintage chair had me at “bouclé”… and the ladies at Anyon do such a wonderful job curating unique and meaningful pieces for the home. I love how versatile it is. Santa, baby! Shop here.

I swear by all things Patty dreams up at Chasseur, and am particularly fond of my fox fur hat. Fluffy, warm and chic! Now I just need a trip to Megève! Shop here.

The Cook’s Atelier is one of my favorite go to’s for all things kitchen and pantry. When they launched their Garden Shop, I was over the moon. The copper and beechwood tools make my heart pitter patter. A perfect gesture for the garden aficionado. Shop here.

The Magic of The adirondack

I’ve always shared my fondness for The Adirondacks as the landscape holds a special place in my heart and was a big part of my upbringing. After all, my husband and I were married in the High Peaks. This past Thanksgiving my family (all 14 of us!) gathered in Lake Placid. We had about 9” of snowfall which made our time together particularly magical and cozy. There is something about the cold sting of upstate air, with a beautiful view of the wilderness in sight…I loved watching the sun creep over the mountains each morning, and the peach skies in the evening disappear over the snowcapped horizon. It is a sensory feeling I wish I could bottle up.

I’m looking forward to the next few days and weeks of holiday decorating, menu scheming and wrapping presents. Until then!

Faye Toogood

I’ve adored the work of celebrated British Artist Faye Toogood for quite some time. Her Spade Chairs are some of my favorites, designed in a range of materials from rubber to stained ash and aluminum. They are created with a nod to English country life — the top shape mimics a garden spade while the bottom, a milking stool. They are sculptural with their sleek linear lines and quite versatile. Perhaps it’s no surprise they are so striking — a great deal of her career was spent as Interiors Editor at The World of Interiors. For more of her furniture pieces, see here. Be sure to review her Interiors work as well!

Jeffery C. Becton

We escaped to Southwest Harbor, Maine this past weekend for a cozy October adventure. While much of the quaint coastal area was winding down for the season, we managed to enjoy a beautiful hike, some lovely meals, and classic Maine merriment.

One particular highlight was the discovery of Jeffery Becton’s work in Shaw Jewelry, a stop recommended by a friend. There were a few of Jeffery’s works hanging in the gallery that sincerely captivated me, to include the piece directly below, mounted to aluminum and then framed simply in a white gallery frame. I found it incredibly striking — its long linear format, the manipulated nature of the combined scenes — decidedly traditional and timeless, (unmistakably Maine or marine?) then met with subtle visual disruption and confusion. It was provoking in the best way.

Photography is one of my favorite mediums for artwork. I especially love how it can often provide a juxtaposition to a more formal space, especially if framed in a specific fashion.

Below, Jeffery’s Artist Statement, as well as a preview of some of his work for your viewing pleasure (my personal favorites). For more, I encourage you to visit his website here.

“Since 1990 I have worked in the medium of digital montage — Combining primarily elements of photography as well as painting, drawing, and scanned materials, the techniques I use foster and give form to intriguing ambiguities, reexamining the boundaries of mixed media and creating altered realities that merge into images rich in symbolism both personal and archetypal. It is not my intention to school the viewer or place before them a fully resolved work that is clear in message, but rather to invite or draw them into an emotional connection, a recognition and unfolding of their own inner experience and understanding. Something akin to finding a unique feeling or emotion that is truly their own. That is the completion of the work.”

Dry Squall 2016 digital montage realized as archival pigment print 15" x 42"

The Pilot House 2014 digital montage realized as archival pigment print 20" x 30”

Blue Chest 2013 digital montage realized as archival pigment print 20" x 22"

Thanksgiving 2017 digital montage realized as archival pigment print 15" x 41"

Bandana Girl

Since I am partial to a good old fashioned bandana, especially while hiking, I loved seeing ARoss Girl’s latest release, the “Do What You Love” embroidered bandana. What a fun and practical accessory! Amanda Ross is always cooking up chic and refreshing pieces.

So Long Summer

As I alluded to in my last post, my husband and I tend to a host an annual end of summer dinner, and this year’s was special given that we welcomed our friends to our new home. It’s always enjoyable to see everyone toward the tail end of the summer as the frenzy of the season can be challenging to gather everyone in the same spot.

It’s been one year since we moved and honestly, we haven’t looked back. We adore our new neighborhood that feels refreshingly “old school” with children roaming the streets on bicycles to and from school (the elementary school just around the corner), neighbors passing by with friendly exchanges and the quiet roar of the waves at the beach two blocks away. It feels safe here — not to say that Newport wasn’t, but there is something so peaceful about where we’ve landed. Secure. Most in our town are here for the school system and sense of community — with those sentiments there is a palpable sense of unity. I suppose that is the feeling we quest for when we are young and building our lives and families.

Cheers to the end of summer and more memories to be had this fall and winter.

A September Weekend

I’m spending the afternoon between calls flowering for our September dinner party this weekend. Arranging is harder than it looks! I’m also looking forward to the day that I have a proper flower spinner.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Farm Stand Magic

A brief afternoon in Concord resulted in a spontaneous stop at Saltbox Farm to grab veggies for dinner and the most delicious peaches. Farm stands are surely one of the things I love the most about summertime and this visit did not disappoint. Coincidentally, we attempted to visit Saltbox Kitchen for lunch earlier that day, however there were closed due to an event the prior evening.

If you’re in the area, do put Saltbox on your radar!

Here’s to savoring August & September…

C&C Curates à la Chairish

I’ve been spending a bit of time on Chairish — from listening to the podcast hosted by Michael Boodro when I’m zipping around in the car (LOVED the recent episode with Bunny Williams and the more recent “Why Is British Style Back?”), to the wee hours of the night when I’m scheming for our little house. I’ve also been helping a client find some special pieces for an upcoming event.

I thought just for fun I’d share some of the items that have me marveling at their beauty. Oh, and if you haven’t already, take a peek at their current Aegean Dreaming edit. Enjoy!

Adore these colors and textures. How pretty would farm market bouquet look in this vase? Alvino Bagni for Raymor Sea Garden Vase — see here.

Just so fabulous! Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Style Zig Zag Chairs — see here.

Oyster plates are ALWAYS chic. Did you see Mally Skok’s fab collection? Adore the hue of these Antique French Barbotine Plates — see here.

I ADORE Gustavian furniture. I’ve had my eye on this gal for a while — see here.

So fun! The perfect perch for a cocktail — see here. They had a pair in green I was about to bring home but they sold!

I have loved this collaboration between Chairish x Santa Barbara Designs. I only wish the stand was a different material/color? See here.