There are so many pretty white dresses floating around the internet. While they come in all shapes and fabrics, it’s lace ones like these that I seem to be drawn to at the moment.
Blair Eadie wearing this Alexis lace dress, $900 USD
lace dress, $54 USD
lace dress, $30 USD
Anna Sui silk and lace dress, $420 USD
Kaytte lace dress, $289 USD
Have a great weekend, everyone! And Happy Mother’s Day!
So, I’m on a Relais & Chateaux kick at the moment. The hotels are just beautiful and unique. They ooze luxury. Plus, somehow they keep finding me via Twitter, so I figure it’s a sign. I will keep my Relais & Chateaux research going!
Today, I’m bringing you to the Palazzo Manfredi in Rome, Italy. As in – you can see the Colosseum from your hotel window! Che bello! The hotel offers pretty spectacular views and the rooms are certainly inviting.
Look at all the white loveliness in this hotel room! And can you see the Colosseum outside the window? Amazing.
If you’re loving this look, here’s how you can bring it home:
bed, bathrobe, coverlet, art, sheet set, curtains, round mirror, magnifying mirror, desk, Dedalo Pianca side table, lamp
What do you think? What’s your favourite piece?
The Tolix chair is a common addition to rooms that ooze “rustic elegance” or “industrial chic.” The form looks simple enough, but 100 manual operations are required to make a Tolix. This is a classic cafĂ© chair designed my metalworker Xavier Pauchard in 1934. Now, 80-plus years later, we’re still seeing this chair (and many reproductions of it) in cafĂ©s – and homes – around the world.
Tolix Marais A Chair, $233 (on sale), Design Within Reach
via Jacquelyn Clark
via Sheer Luxe
via Lushome
via HomeBunch
via House of Bliss
via Kotivinkki
From the images above, you can see how versatile the chair is. It fits well at a dining room table as it does on an outdoor patio. It can be put to use as a side chair, desk chair, or dining chair. And, you can’t tell by these photos, but the Tolix (and its reproductions) comes in an assortment of colours making it an easy piece to incorporate in diverse interiors.
Last month, I bought these Cole Haan sneakers, and I’ve been wearing them almost daily (not in the rain!) since I bought them. They are so comfortable! These white ones are probably just as comfortable, and have their own distinct, classic Cole-Haan, basketweave pattern.
Cole Haan ZeroGrand Huarache Oxford
Please tell me you’re still enjoying all of my #WhiteCabanaGoestoLangdonHall news. I thoroughly enjoy my visits there. It’s a unique gem, and I’m happy to share stories about my experiences. The staff is so kind and welcoming, and I’m thrilled that I get to keep visiting. Some friends have asked me about my recent dinner there, so I thought I’d write a little something about it in case others were interested in learning, too.
Last week, Langdon Hall hosted the Congress of the North American Relais & Chateaux partners. Owners, general managers, and others from Relais & Chateaux properties came to Langdon Hall for a few days of learning and mingling. On the Sunday before the learning began, Langdon Hall hosted a reception for its guests – congress attendees and a few other friends, too. I was thrilled to have been invited to join in on the fun.
I arrived at Langdon Hall on a rainy evening, but the weather didn’t dampen anyone’s mood. As soon as I stepped inside the main house, I was handed a glass of champagne (rain? what rain?). While sipping on the bubbly, I chatted with a few of the guests. Everyone was in a happy mood, and everyone seemed to be amazed by the beauty of Langdon Hall. I know! I get it!
Wine tasting was happening in several of the rooms, and in addition to the Bergström and the Guado al Tasso wines, I was fascinated by the Coravin wine opener. A needle punctures through the cork, and the wine is poured. Through the power of magic (and engineering), after you take the opener off the bottle, the cork remains in place. The wine is protected, and it won’t spoil, since the cork remains as the seal.
While we were sipping on champagne and wine, plenty of hors d’oeuvres were passed around. Presentation was beautiful and we were treated with plenty of delicious treats!
A little while later, all guests were invited to make their way to the Firshade Room which is Langdon Hall’s newest event space (I wrote about it when it was set up for a wedding open house.). Here, Langdon Hall’s owner, Mr. Bill Bennett, welcomed all of his guests and introduced three performers from the Stratford Festival – Sean Arbuckle, Blyth Wilson, and Laura Burton on piano. They performed a few songs, and the songs from Guys and Dolls were especially entertaining. It seems like it’s a really fun show!
costumes from A Little Night Music
And then…we feasted.
Chef Jason Bangerter and his team worked wonders once again. Charcuterie, truffle risotto, beef and pork with turnip purée, oysters, and apple slices topped with cheese and marcona almonds? Oh, jeez, I was in food heaven! The meal was served buffet-style, and everything was plated in style. As is the Langdon Hall way!
And to end our meal? Pastry Chef Rachel Nicholson and her team created so many artistic treats. There was something for everyone. I opted for a creme brulĂ©e and a peanut butter and strawberry mousse. It was hard to resist at just two – let me tell you!
The evening was memorable, fun, interesting, and delicious. I had great conversations throughout the evening, and I learned more about several Relais & Chateaux properties.
Thanks again, Langdon Hall, for welcoming me in so warmly!