Hillwood Museum & Gardens

 There is no good way to describe Washington, D.C. when there's a heat wave in that town. "Oppressive" is a good word, but it doesn't clearly convey what it feels like to be hit in the face with a hot, wet  towel when you walk out the door of your hotel.


But despite the oppressive heat, my short visit there was filled with new experiences, including visiting HIllwood Museum and Garden, the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post.

I arrived early and was alone in the house for most of the time, able to walk through the rooms as though I was on a personal visit rather than a tour of a museum.  I could imagine Mrs. Post descending the marble staircase in an evening gown and bejeweled, greeting me and inviting me into her home.

The Georgian-style mansion was designed by John Deibert in 1926, for Mrs. Henry Parsons Erwin. In the 1950’s Mrs. Post purchased the property and hired New York architect Alexander McIlvaine to completely redesign and expand the old mansion. What the visitor sees now is the result of that effort.

The house is situated on 25 acres in the northern part of Georgetown in what was once a very rural part of town. It made for an easy get-away retreat for city dweller. By today’s standards of McMansions, it’s not a large house, but because the dining room can seat more than twenty-four guests, it’s clear that entertaining was a high priority.  It also has a home theatre with velvet upholstered walls and magnificent parquet floors for stay-at-home evenings of watching movies with friends, just like today, but much grander.

All the rooms are filled with magnificent antiques, art, and her collections of small objets d’art on view in wall cases and on display tables throughout the house. Because of her wonderful displays, I’m inspired to both continue collecting lovely objects on my travels and to find new ways to show them.

The people in charge of the museum make every effort to keep the house as Mrs. Post left it, even with a few idiosyncratic things in place. This serves to maintain the feeling of her personal impression on the property for all to enjoy.

No photography is allowed inside the house, but it's okay to take pictures outside in the gardens, so I’ve posted a few here for your enjoyment.

Hillwood has a comprehensive web site that includes a list of items on display in the museum. In lieu of actually visiting the museum, I encourage you to visit the site and browse.

http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/

Flea Market Primer

In light of the announcement that a new “world class” flea marketing is coming to San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on the third Sunday of each month, I’m republishing this article that I wrote for the SF Chronicle’s Home & Garden section several years ago. I thought the information is timeless and useful enough to share it with you here. 

Candlestick Park Antiques and Collectibles Faire

Date: Third Sunday of every month

Time: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Price: $15 from 6 to 8 a.m.; $5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Parking: Ample parking at Candlestick

For more information: www.candlestickantiques.com

ANOTHER PERSON'S TREASURES

Flea market bargains make decorative sense

Looking for silver candlesticks, exotic fabrics, an old steamer trunk, a brass bed? An iron gate to turn into a headboard? Old buttons, Wellerware pottery, Superman comic books? If you can imagine it, you can undoubtedly find it at a flea market.

The list of worthwhile "finds" is long at these emporiums of the unusual, the vintage and the uncommon. Even if you have to shop for a finicky, hard-to- please uncle, cousin or sibling during the holidays, the flea market is a perfect place to find something different -- and that can't be returned.

There is no official history of the flea market or of how it got its name, though several theories exist. The first references to "flea market" appear in two stories set in Paris in the 1860s. One theory contends that the name comes from the fleas infesting the upholstered furniture sold at open-air markets. The other has to do with the redesigning of Paris streets, when merchants were forced to "flee" elsewhere to continue their trade.

Whatever the origins, flea markets exist around the world, and the shopping method is universal: The vendor brings merchandise to sell, you see it and want it, and the two of you bargain until striking a price that makes you both happy.

Then you pay for your found treasure and take it away. It's that simple.

Because everyone has their own taste, the flea market appeals to many different shoppers. There's a fine line between treasure and junk, but it's barely perceptible since what one person considers junk, another person treasures.

A single silver candlestick may not mean much to someone who wants a pair, but for the person who wants a more eclectic look and is willing to have five mismatched candles sticks to create an interesting effect, that single candlestick may be the perfect one.

Vintage clothing can be very expensive if all the buttons are properly in place and the item is nicely pressed. But for someone who's handy with a needle and thread, the flea market offers a plethora of opportunities to find just the right piece to complement their wardrobe.

Some people shop the flea markets looking for items to add to their collections, like silver or china with specific patterns or a decorative style that goes with their furniture.

There are well-known stories in the flea market world of invaluable antiques sold for the price of junk, but these are few and far between. So don't expect to fund your retirement on what you find in the heaps of art and hotel silver.

Instead, if you have an eye for the unusual, interesting or fanciful, the flea market is the perfect place to unleash your imagination and risk a few dollars. Skip the vendors selling new household products, toiletries, socks and T-shirts, and head to those selling one-of-a-kind finds.

Typically, these vendors scour garage, yard, and estate sales as well as the classifieds looking for older, more interesting and collectible items, things they think they can sell to people who want a variety of interesting selections in one place and don't have the time to make the garage sale circuit.

It's important to inspect an item you're interested in very carefully, as there usually is a "no return" policy on everything sold at a flea market. And because some merchants sell only when they have enough to make the effort worthwhile, you may not be able to find that vendor to make a complaint the next time the flea market is held. The shopping rule truly is caveat emptor -- buyer beware.

Bargaining is a given at flea markets. When you bargain, consider that the merchant priced the item high with the expectation that it would sell for less.

But he or she still has in mind a price that they will not go below; otherwise they won't make a profit. Keep this in mind when you make an offer that's below their asking price. Be flexible and be as willing to come up in your price as the merchant is willing to come down in theirs.

Cash and carry used to be the only means by which transactions took place, but now, in addition to cash, checks and even credit cards are accepted by some vendors.

Remember, if you don't like something you buy at the flea market, you can always sell it at a garage sale. Just don't be surprised to see it turn up at another flea market if you do.

MAKE YOUR 'FIND' LOOK FABULOUS

How do you make those items you've found at the flea market look like expensive treasures? By using your imagination and a few handy tips.

Almost anything can be made to look terrific when artfully repaired, refurbished and effectively placed in your home. Here are a few tips:

-- Use paint remover to reveal an old dresser's original wood. After light sanding, it will take a stain finish and look like an old family heirloom. Or apply a new coat of paint and add a touch of whimsy with fun knobs and handles.

-- "Shabby chic" is a designer term for old and worn-looking furniture and upholstery that no one wants to refinish or re-cover. But it's a studied look; estate-style old should not be confused with dilapidated, so use caution when attempting to develop this style in your home.

-- Tarnished silver and brass look awful, but polishing makes an amazing impact. The difference in price between a silver teapot bought at an antique store and a tarnished one from the flea market is worth a little bit of elbow grease.

-- One old suitcase won't do much for a corner in your living room, but stacking a few of different sizes and colors and putting a plant in the open one on top makes an interesting collection that could provide extra storage space in a small apartment.

-- Five mismatched silver candlesticks placed on a mantle or table add visual interest to that part of the room. Use different heights of candles to emphasize the difference for an even more intriguing effect.

-- Place objects with interesting textures and shapes in groups of three. Materials that complement each other, like brass, ceramic and leather, create pleasing visual effects that add dimension to a space.

-- An old iron garden gate can be a found treasure even if you don't have a garden. Think of it as a headboard, a coffee table top or a decorative detail above a doorway.

-- Think of something you'd like to collect and use the flea market as your best resource for it. This gives you focus as you hunt through vendors' wares. If you're collecting silver, for example, decide on a pattern and look for the same pieces as you go around.

Categories of collectibles vary considerably, but over time the whole can become more valuable than its parts. Once you become a collector you'll get to know other collectors and then you can swap and trade up.

TIPS FOR SHOPPING

To ensure that shopping at flea markets is fun and successful in finding treasures, here are some tips to guide you:

-- Don't get emotionally involved with an item you're interested in. You gain bargaining power if the vendor thinks you could walk away from it if the price didn't please you.

-- Haggle for a better price, but remember that the vendor needs to make a living, so let the other party save face.

-- If you want it, buy it; it probably won't be there when you come back for it later.

-- Bring cash and use denominations smaller than the $20s you get from the automated teller machine. Pay with exact change when possible, especially if you've negotiated the price down. Imagine how it would look if you bargained the price to $5 and you gave the vendor a $20 bill.

-- Inspect items closely before purchasing. While an item may be damaged, it might be easily repaired and worth the expense if it'll look terrific when fixed.

-- Some vendors, especially of jewelry and silver, have stores or private clients, so if you strike up a friendly relationship that vendor might be able to find specific items for you later.

-- Bring a magnet if you're interested in brass; a magnet won't stick to real brass.

-- Bring a small magnifying glass if you're looking at jewelry or silver; it helps see markings and the quality of settings.

-- Buyer beware: If the price of something seems to good to be true, it probably is. Vendors typically know their stuff, so don't expect to find an original Rembrandt oil painting for $15. Similarly with jewelry; cubic zirconias and diamonds look a lot alike, and only a jeweler using special equipment can tell the difference.

Photo credit: SF Chronicle

WHY THIS ROOM WORKS: Country House Master Bedroom

OBJECTIVE: Because this couple often invites people to spend the weekend, they wanted a master bedroom suite that’s multi-functional; a place for sleeping, obviously, but also include a place to sit and read or watch television when they want a quiet moment away from their houseguests.

DESIGN APPROACH: When constructing this home the master plan included having a large enough bedroom that would offer more space than just a place for the bed. Storage space was essential, and also provided a place to put a television that wouldn’t be visible when not being watched. 

WHY THIS ROOM WORKS: The luxury of having a large bedroom gives the homeowner an opportunity to have two distinct areas within the room; a sleeping area and a sitting area. Because it’s a bedroom, the colors are neutral, yet warm. Patterns on the fabric are tone on tone to help keep the visual effect calm and soothing, yet interesting. 

The fabric on the headboard and bench at the foot of the bed are the same. The bed skirt and throw pillow on the bed also match each other, thus giving the sleeping are a sense of harmony. Complementary fabric on the club chairs and ottoman allow the two areas to relate to each other. Shutters on the French doors keep the room cool in the afternoon.

The cabinets in the sitting area of the bedroom provide ample storage. The shirred fabric inside the doors is the same fabric as on the skirt and throw pillows of the bed, yet again unifying the bedroom. A television is inside one of the cabinets, and the doors recess into the sides of the cabinet to make viewing easy.

An oversized mirror on the wall opposite the bed gives the illusion that this large bedroom is even larger. It also reflects the vineyards outside, and brings the country feeling inside.

The pattern in the custom-made Tibetan wool rug incorporates the same pattern as the fabric on the headboard and bench, but on a larger scale. The leaf design is another reflection of the country outside. Each chair has its own reading light. Their electric outlets are recessed in the floor, just under the edge of the rug. One ottoman is shared by both chairs and is on casters so it moves easily.

When A House Speaks

While meeting with a client recently in preparation for her move to a smaller home, she said, “The move is motivated because my house is kicking me out.”

“Interesting statement,” I thought. She went on the explain that little by little the house was giving her a clear message that she should no longer be living in it, but rather she should move to a smaller home, preferably to an apartment where the maintenance would be handled by someone else.

When I returned home later that afternoon I looked at my house and thought about what it’s saying to me. I take very good care of it, maintaining, painting, and repairing it whenever it asks, and sometimes before it does. I’ve upgraded it structurally a few times, once because I wanted to, and more than once because it asked me to, an expensive drainage system being a good case in point.

My house is my sanctuary, my interior design laboratory, my family’s home, and my pride and joy. I love showing it off to guests, holding guided tours with commentary when requested. And the house glows and sparkles proudly. We’re a good fit, my house and me.

I’ve lived here for a long time; this house was my “starter” house. It’s now my “downsize to” house. (I skipped that whole McMansion thing.) And it’s my dream to live here for many more years to come.

So, house, speak kindly to me, and I’ll always take good care of you as you do of me. 

WHY THIS ROOM WORKS - Wine Country Home

OBJECTIVE: Create an environment where the homeowners could walk in the door on weekends and immediately decompress from their every day lives. It should also be a home where guests would feel welcome and family members with young children can gather for weekends and holiday festivities and no one has to worry about the furniture being too precious for the grandkids.

DESIGN APPROACH: The communal living spaces (living and dining areas as well as the kitchen) subscribe to the open floor plan approach whereby people have an opportunity to share time with each other no matter what the function. For example, socializing can still occur when meals are being prepared. 

WHY THIS ROOM WORKS: A neutral palette of calm greens was chosen to bring the feeling of the outside into the large space. Because the ceiling is so high (30’ at its peak), the room was grounded with a large Tibetan oriental rug that set the tone for colors in the upholstered furniture. The custom blended wall color complements the kid-friendly fabrics and warm, rich woods of the furniture. To keep the scale of the room in proportion, large elements were used in high places throughout the room. These prevent the eye from wandering too high.

The Tibetan oriental rug provided the inspiration for the color scheme of the room. Solid, kid-friendly fabrics were used on the large pieces of upholstered furniture, while rich, textural tapestries were used on the backs of the dining chairs and for throw pillows on the sofa and window seat. The entry door is oversized to maintain scale in the large room. 

The natural element above the fireplace grounds the space. A pair of console lamps on the table behind the sofa provides lighting to read by.

The chandelier over the breakfast counter helps draw the eye down to “people” level and simultaneously provides task lighting. Accessories above the cabinets keep the eye from wandering too high into the lofty ceiling.

The window seat is a separate place in the large room where someone can curl up with a good book.  Storage drawers beneath it were designed to not look like drawers at all, but are a good place to keep the grandkid’s games. 

Busy, Busy, Writing, Writing

It’s been a productive few weeks and I’ve been busy writing articles for several publications. The planets and stars have aligned and all these articles published at the same time.

Here’s a handy little guide with links to each article. Just click on the title and you'll be taken there:

The IS Collection:  Feature article on “Backyard Getaways”

The  San Francisco Bay Area Women’s Journal;  “Secrets to Decorating Small Spaces”

Growers and Nomads, Notes on the Meaning of Home;  “Making a Home Filled with Laughter and Love”

And of course, my Examiner.com "Interior Decorating" column.

I suggest you subscribe to this blog for updates and links to new articles.