"Please, Do Not Disturb . . . "

Barry Dixon, for Metropolitan Home

Greetings,

Saturday - high temperature  50 degrees, with steady rain.  Sunday - High temperature 54 degrees, with steady rain.  If you're looking for me this weekend.  I'll be in bed.  Resting after a busy, busy week here at the office - and hopefully sleeping off the last lingering remnants of my steady, lingering cold.

And if one is in the mood for a long afternoon of simple napping - there's nothing quite like a canopy bed.  Just that luxurious feeling of safely.  And comfort.  And the proper amount of decadence.

Which is your favourite ?

Phoebe Howard, Atlanta Showcase House.

Lush and amazing.  Bright and embracing.  

Miles Redd, for Elle Decor 

Or maybe something a bit more exotic? 

Charlotte Moss, Kips Bay Showhouse
(image from New York Social Diary)

Classic and feminine.  As one would only expect from the lovely Charlotte Moss. 

Celerie Kemble,  from House Beautiful  (photo credit - Don Freeman)

Totally loving the gray and lavender colour story.

And the scalloped edge detail on the window and bed hangings is marvelous.

SMW Design, San Francisco

But, this is where I'll be.  My own little bed out by the beach in San Francisco.  

We've got nothing but damp, blustery weather forecasted all weekend.  

With any luck, I'll never even see the outside. 

Napping quietly,

Scot

"T is for . . . well . . . um . . . "

Greetings,

We'll open this particular post with some advice - if I were you - I'd make a quick cup of tea before even starting this one.  Because seriously, it's not like you were expecting a lengthy post about vintage trombones, or the stardom of Taylor Lautner, or travel destinations in Transylvania.

Our tour of the alphabet may have reached a fevered pitch as we finally arrive at "T." Tartan.  Frankly, I've often wondered why it delights me so.  At times it feels almost visceral.  I love its history. I love its romanticism.  I love its geometric order.  Gleaming on plates.  Pleated on kilts.  Covering either walls or windows.  Tightly upholstered on chairs.  Or lushly draped as cashmere throws.

Is your tea ready yet?  Maybe a lovely blend of Scottish Breakfast?  Maybe with a home-made scone?  Let me assure you, antique tartan china and plaid table linens are not a requirement.  There is more than enough tartan in the following images . . . .

Enjoy . . .

Whew,
Scot

- images from several sources.  "Tartan.  Romancing the Plaid,"  Elle Decor, House Beautiful, "Highland Living", "Inspirational Interiors," and the canon camera of Scot Meacham Wood.

"So I Guess the Question Is . . . "

Charlotte Moss from Elle Decor

Photographed by Pieter Estersohn

" . . . is it possible to marry a room?"

Greetings all,

To say that Charlotte Moss is simply brilliant is kind of like that the sun is 'kinda warm.' I never seem to tire of her gracious, lovely spaces. I was flipping through the new Elle Decor yesterday - and I'm not overstating this . . . I actually began to slightly weep at the wondrous sight of this glorious room in Charlotte's home in Colorado. It almost felt like that very first flush of love. Giddy and excited. With some awe thrown in for good measure.

I'm always amazed at the almost visceral impact that a beautiful home can have on those who are fortunate enough to pass through its doors. It speaks volumes about the people who live there. How they see their lives. The things which are important to them.

"... our objects, bibelots, whatnots, and knickknacks-say

the most about who we are. They are as honest as a diary."

- Charlotte Moss

"The combined effect of this splendor is like an aristocratic

family’s historic chalet transported from the Alps to the

Rockies. It’s not the way things are usually done in Colorado,

but as Moss declares, 'One’s taste remains constant, whatever the location.' "

A little tartan. A little Chintz. An 18th century portrait. An antique Carpet.

The combination - priceless beauty.

I cannot begin to recommend the newest issue of Elle Decor strongly enough. It is packed with style and magic on almost ever page.

The crazy work week continues,

tartanscot

"Luxury need not be extravagant . . . "

Charlotte Moss and Scot Meacham Wood

Greetings and Salutations,

Where does one begin to describe the wondrously gracious Charlotte Moss? And how does one, such as myself, begin to tell you about the amazing evening . . . listening to Charlotte at Gumps in San Francisco - in conversation with Diane Dorrans Saeks - discussing design, windex, and life in general.

"The love of beauty costs nothing." Seriously, how can you beat that kind of inspiration. Charlotte opened the evening with a description of her love of fresh flowers. I think we've all mentioned how special fresh flowers make our homes feel. But now, she's up at the crack of dawn, going to the local flower market - buying wholesale and arranging them herself.

And a sea of homesickness swept over me as she talked of her childhood in the South. "My mother would always be the last one out of the house," she said. "We would just be waiting in the car. But, we knew she was inside, plumping the decorative pillows on the sofa before she would leave the house. Her reasoning was - 'You never know who might stop by?' And Mother wanted everything to be 'guest ready'." Like so many southerners, there just always seemed to be such a pronounced sense of hospitality in her upbringing. And that specific aspect of one's home, as a place to welcome guests, seems to permeate so much of her very gracious aesthetic.

And the advice wasn't limited to interior design, my favourite - "Don't spray windex on antique gold gilded mirrors. Spray the windex on a rag, and use the rag to clean the mirror. Otherwise - the gold gilding begins to turn blue." Good to know.

Cheers,

tartanscot

"The Art of Living . . ."

Charlotte Moss

Good afternoon,

Just getting back into the office from a very long (and very productive) meeting at the house in the east bay . . . so finally letting my brain take a little rest - and getting some much needed food in my system . . . lol.  It's always such a delight to work on a project when the client is SO decisive.  We made important progress.  But that's not the only good news today.

As I'm perusing my calendar for the next few days . . . there it is . . . my invitation . . . just a tiny bit over 24 hours away.  "The Art of Living" - a conversation with Charlotte Moss at Gumps in San Francisco.  Yay!  I cannot wait to meet her and hear her inspiring words.  (Oh, and what the heck am I going to wear?!)

"... our objects, bibelots, whatnots, and knickknacks - say 

the most about who we are. They are as honest as a diary."

- Charlotte Moss

So excited,

tartanscot

"Before we start our day . . . "

Let us just take a few moments to love Charlotte Moss.  

Okay, we now return you to your regular Thursday.

tartanscot

for more information

"It's in the details . . . "

"...People's live are expressed in little details....The soap in the bathroom, the flowers in the garden, the books on the bedside table are all strong symbols of a life in progress. You look at these details and a world unfolds - here are their books, the paintings they cherish, the music that soothes their souls."

Charlotte Moss, A Passion for Details

Image : "Entry" by Roger Banks-Pye