Country Decor Blog

This is not meant to be a morbid post. Nor is it meant to be melancholy. Think of this as a sentimental post! I’ve been thinking of the pet cemetery I came across more than a month ago in Ireland. I did write about it briefly, but I wanted to share a bit more detail because I did find it to be very special because it demonstrates the connection that people can have with their pets. For all of us pet owners, the thought of losing a beloved dog, cat or even gerbil, can be devastating. I admit that I’m a complete basket-case whenever I think of one of my many four-legged friends leaving me (so much so that I keep acquiring new pets in the hopes that they will precipitously fill any upcoming void!). That being said, all of us who love pets know that the time will someday come that our animals will leave us. That is why I was so completely moved by the pet cemetery tucked away at the Powerscourt Estate in Co. Wicklow, Ireland.  

When you first arrive at Powerscourt, you are greeted by an overwhelming sense of formality and structure. The garden is elegant and designed in keeping with the feel of an Italian formal garden. As striking as it is, it doesn’t have a personal feel to it.

the exceedingly sculpted formal Italian gardens at Powerscourt

After a walk through the park, there are signposts pointing towards “the pet cemetery.” Odd, it seemed, to have a “pet cemetery” in a formal garden, no?  But when I finally came across it, I was overwhelmed by the emotions I felt as I walked through it. Formal headstones mark the last resting place of the pets - from ponies to dogs – that belonged to the Slazenger and Wingfield families who once lived in Powerscourt. Many of the headstones date back to the beginning of the 20th century. Knowing that a pet was so beloved that its resting spot is still admired more than 100 years later is remarkable. 

I took photos of each and every one of the tombstones, not out of morbid curiosity, but rather because I was charmed by the visual images that each of the inscriptions on the stones implied. For example, Eugenie the Jersey Cow “died in 1967, aged 15 years, She had 17 calves and produces over 100,000 gallons of milk.” Or Kilfane the Irish Wolfhound who was universally beloved. The inscriptions are all personal and simply beautiful. And the fact that the public are able to wander through these tombstones and imagine the lives of the pets that once ran joyously through the grounds of Powerscourt. It has to be said, that my favourite is the one listed below. Talk about anthropomorphosizing your family bet. I whole-heartedly agree that it is the right thing to do!

Apologies for my lack of blogging - the internet connections (and possibly my laptop) have been causing me a significant amount of grief… But here I am, writing away at the Westville Hotel in Enniskillen, and I can’t wait to talk about my day at Mount Stewart, a national trust property in Northern Ireland. I promise to catch up on yesterday’s events a little later today! (hint: it includes barbecue sauce!!)

When I imagine life in Ireland, I usually think nostalgia. I’m not sure why, after all Ireland is a modern, bustling economic force, but I still can’t help but think of visions of  the 1920s… Maybe it’s my penchant for Merchant Ivory films, but whenever I’ve come across a National Trust property, I’m smitten. Mount Stewart is simply one of the best properties that I’ve ever been to. Perhaps it is because a family member is still present there. (Lady Mairi Bury is in her late eighties and resides in the magnificent house). Or maybe it’s because of the fabulous George Stubbs painting that hangs in the hall. Or the multitudes of family portraits that hang throughout the rooms, given you a glimpse into a kinder, gentler life. But in reality, I think it is because of the gardens. They are truly sublime. 

Designed in the 1920s by Lady Mairi’s mother, Lady Londonberry, the gardens are elegant testaments to her original vision. Lovingly cared for by the head gardener Owen (who I was lucky enough to meet) the gardens exude style, energy and grace. We got there at midday (not exactly the best time to shoot a garden), but we were lucky to have beautiful light, thanks to those endless Irish clouds. 

I’m thankful we had an opportunity to visit Mount Stewart, and I implore anyone who dreams of visiting Ireland to make sure that a visit - preferably a whole day there - is on their schedule. There is even a lovely spot to have lunch or tea (and they make a yummy carrot cake too!)

I haven’t been able to download my personal shots of Mount Stewart, but here is a glimpse courtesy of the Irish Tourist board.

Imagine being able to live here?

Following our dreamy time there, we were picked up and taken to the Culloden Hotel and Spa, an exceptionally grand property on the outskirts of Belfast. It was the quintessentially beautiful old-style hotel. We checked in and had a (freshly baked) scone and tea. Yum! The beds were cozy. We were sad to only be able to spend one night there….

* Other than the Mount Stewart property, Lady Londonderry is perhaps best known for her role as ’society’s queen’ - a hostess to the rich and famous. Her close circle of friends included Winston Churchill, Lady Astor, Neville Chamberlain and Harold Macmillan who congregated in her salon, known as ‘The Ark’. Each of the members of ‘The Ark’ had nicknames, and Winston Churchill was known as ‘Winston the warlock’

**if you are interested in visiting Ireland, check out www.discoverireland.com

It’s official. I’m a Guiness drinker. But only in Ireland. I’m not sure whether it is because of the bracing winds, the intermittent downpours or the attractive Irish barhands, but Guiness seems to be the drink of choice on my tour of Ireland. 

Today started at the Powerscourt Estate in Co. Wicklow. A fabulous property that overlooks the ridiculously perfect “Sugar Loaf” mountain, Powerscourt encompasses the best of international gardening styles in one property. From formal Italian gardens (think clipped boxwood and tight circular beds planted with red roses) to a jewel of a Japanese garden, Powerscourt sparked my gardening imagination. One particularly quirky feature, however, was the family pet cemetary (the Slazenger family, of the eponymous tennis racket manufacturing company, vacated the house in the last decade or so). Some may find it morbid, but I found the stone markers of everyone from “Mrs. Mare, a brilliant hunter & companion” who passed away in 1940 at 19 years of age to “Sailor, a curly retriever, a faithful companion for 5 years.”

The animal kingdom theme continued at the Irish National Stud, which is the only Irish stud farm opened to the public, was our next stop. Of course, I was thrilled to see some incredible thoroughbreds first-hand. Better still was our second Japanese garden of the day, which depicted rather romantically the stages of life. The garden, which I will detail later this week, was simply spectacular. It will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year.

But back to the most important part of my day: the delicious pint of Guiness that I consumed at the quintessentially Irish pub “Johnny Fox’s.” Where Irish music and dancing was the order of the day. I enjoyed my meal of colcannon soup, grilled salmon and whisky cake - perhaps a little too much! (I rarely eat dessert!). Until tomorrow’s adventures!

*of course I want a pint of Guiness!

**if you are interested in visiting Ireland, check out www.discoverireland.com

Now that it’s the end of May, it’s time to think about decorating outdoors. For me, that involves thinking about creating a comfy spot outdoors where I can recline with a good book. As much as I love the look of vintage French metal bistro chairs (and I really love them from an aesthetic perspective!), the most important thing for me is to be comfortable outside. I don’t have much of a garden to speak of in the city, but I do have a 10 x 12 outdoor terrace that is right off my bathroom. In the beginning, I was delighted with an antique French metal daybed that I’d bought from a homeowner a few years ago. I loved how chic it looked, and I thought of using some Indian-inspired toss pillows and some decadent throws for chilly nights. If you’re interested in a metal daybed, you can find a similar repro one at Ikea for the ridiculously low price of $89! An excellent deal (and the bed is perfect for sleeping outside on sultry summer nights). But I ended up moving the daybed to the farm, because it wasn’t as comfy as I was hoping for (and certainly it was a wee bit awkward hosting parties where everyone had to squish together on a bed!). Enter the brilliant and affordable outdoor furniture from Canadian Tire. I was able to find a fantastic sectional for under $1000, and it fills my entire terrace - it looks like it was custom-made for my porch! The set comes in individual pieces that you can buy to fit your own space. Although Canadian Tire doesn’t have the exact same model this year, they have a similar one that is just as nice. The Enso collection is the same idea as my sectional, and is very chic in chocolate brown weave. They even have a patio daybed! (figures it looks more comfy than my antique French one). Either look is fantastic (although the Enso daybed does cost a little more at $699.99 - but that does include throw cushions, mattress pad and curtains. Let me know if you have any fantastic outdoor furniture finds! Later this week I’ll talk about the next best part after you’ve bought your furniture - customizing it with gorgeous outdoor fabrics!

How I love lilacs (I don’t even need to count the ways!). And this weekend (the true May 24th weekend!) is the perfect time to experience everything gorgeous about lilacs.
I spent the wee hours of yesterday morning photographing the spectacular lilac dell at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. Photographer Andreas Trauttmansdorff and art director Jose Woertman joined me for an early morning surrounded by absolutely gorgeous lilacs. The RBG has close to 800 varieties of lilacs (possibly the biggest collection in the world!).
As I stood overlooking the dell while the sun came up behind me, I was almost overcome with the heady scent of lilacs. Every variety smells slightly different, from potent and intoxicating to the subtlest of fragrances. As I wandered the gardens while Andreas worked his photographic magic (the story will be published in the May 2010 issue of Canadian Gardening magazine), my thoughts turned to a story I had done a few years ago for Canadian Home & Country magazine’s very first Cottage Style issue.
The shoot was done at my stepmother’s place in Prince Edward County, and we shot on the May 24th weekend. If you haven’t been to Prince Edward County but have been thinking of going, nothing is more spectacular than driving through the country roads when the lilacs are in bloom. They are PLENTIFUL. You may not see the multiple varieties like you would at the RBG, but you’ll be thrilled by how prolific and magnificent they are as they grow wild along the winding roads.
At any rate, I got up early in the morning to gather as many varieties of lilacs that I could find to use for my shoot. In fact, I may have even snuck a few clippings from neighbours’ yards while the homeowners were still sleeping peacefully (not to worry, I fessed up later!)
With my armloads of lilacs, I filled every spare vessel I could find. I did small clusters of them in the kitchen, and put a huge branch of them on display in the living room. Just like in the dell at the RBG, the scent of lilacs hung heavy on the air.
If you’re inspired at all by lilacs, I implore you to head to the RBG this weekend where they are in bloom in all their glory (or of, course, take a road trip to Prince Edward County - you won’t be disappointed).
For my next blog, I’m going to list my favourite lilac varieties (hint: one of them was developed by an icon in the style industry).

If you’re a horsey person like me (and I know that many of you out there are), you’ll approve of my tale of equestrian-inspired decor. No, not those silly patterns of bucking broncos and cowboy hats, or those saccharine ode to a love for horses courtesy of tv series like The Saddle Club. I’m talking about true, fundamenta equestrian motifs and how they translate into decorative style. 

I should probably back up a little. I was born with a horse-loving gene. From the time I was old enough to point and smile, my dad recounts that I would always light up whenever I saw an image of a horse. This sensibility has continued - and, if anything, has gotten even stronger. 

This past weekend I was at the Rolex FEI World Cup in Las Vegas. The marketplace was brimming with all things “horsey,” including some ridiculously tacky accessories for the home. But within every marketplace is always a gem, and I was able to dig up some really interesting ideas to take home with me. One of them was to use a traditional bridle rack (these can be bought inexpensively at tack shops like Greenhawk Harness) as a towel hook. They come in all sorts of fun colours, from bright purple to dark green. Better still was the artwork. Canadian Gardening Executive Editor Suzanne Moutis has started a collection of vintage horse postcards for me, and I’ve also decided to start collecting vintage equestrian paint-by-numbers. They’re very fun and retro - the perfect thing to hang in a powder room or small space.

But the best thing I’ve done for myself as far as equestrian decor was to commission a portrait of my Westfalen filly Fleur. I hired the incredibly talented Jenn Pratt to come out and photograph Fleur, and then paint her. The result has just been posted on her website. I am fascinated how a portrait can do two things so beautifully: one, to create something that resonates emotionally, and two, paint something that is an elegant addition to my decor. I think this image takes the equestrian decor motif to a whole new level! Please go to Jenn’s site http://jennprattequineartist.com and check it out!

Fleur at 6 weeks in 2008

This note has been a week and a half coming - apologies to those of you who have been waiting to hear from me about the closure of the print edition of Canadian Home & Country magazine.. I have been thinking about what to say in this blog about the loss of a print publication that has become so much a part of me. I have been at Canadian Home & Country since its inception in 2000, when I was hired by Avid Media to relaunch a small traditional home magazine called Century Home. Within a year, we had rebranded it as Canadian Home & Country, and we took flight as the ONE decor magazine that celebrates casual living and decorating with your own personality. Unfortunately, with the downturn in the economy, we’ve had to shutter the print version of CH&C, but I am happy to say that we will continue working on canadianhomeandcountry.com with as much joy and enthusiasm as we can! But there is some good news in the midst of all this sad news: First, I have been helming the editorship of Canadian Gardening magazine and am delighted to work on an influential, informative and FUN gardening magazine. I hope to bring the same life and creativity to it that I brought (at least I think I did!) to Canadian Home & Country. Please check us out online at canadiangardening.com As well, make sure to check out the forums on CG’s terrific site. But EVEN more importantly, I got a new puppy. I spent a few days down on Amelia Island in North East Florida (I will write more about it over the next few days) and drove across the top of Florida to Youngstown, Florida where I picked up Tallulah, my 9 week-old Catahoula leopard dog puppy from a fantastic breeder named Panhead Kennel. She flew back with me to Toronto in a little carrying case tucked under my seat. She is sitting on my lap right now as I am typing this… All I have to say is this: the best way to get over your grief (in my case, the loss of the print version of CH&C) is to buy a puppy! I promise, it works!

Phew! What a long weekend at the Interior Design show… But what a lot of fun (and inspiration) as well! The show was packed with visitors all weekend long, and I showed up early Saturday morning to photograph our space with phenom photographer Donna Griffith. We arrived at 6 a.m. to an echoing space devoid of visitors. the Interior Design Show usually has packed aisleways so it was a great opportunity to check everything out while no one was there. However, Donna quickly got down to work, unpacking her two cartloads of photography equipment. Though there were tons of great booths at the show (retailer Hollace Cluny’s elegant but diminutive booth being one of my favourite) (p.s. the elegant wooden folding screen featured in our booth is available through Hollace Cluny), the one thing that absolutely differentiated

Our fab booth from the outside!

the Style at Home/Canadian Home and Country/Canadian Gardening booth was our use of vivid colour from Beautitone paints. Our selected colours were chosen to match the equally awesome photographic wallpaper from the innovative Montreal company Wallyouneedislove. The intense aqua used in Style at Home magazine’s area was Beautitone 3Q3-6 while the shamrock green colour that was used in the Canadian Home & Country/Canadian Gardening area was (the perfect kelly green - very Audrey Hepburn!) was Beautitone 3L3-8. We are very thankful to awesome stylist Malcolm Patterson who decorated our innovative space. In the darkness of February, it is great to work with someone who appreciates the beauty of colour! I don’t want to get into too much more detail about this space - Donna Griffith’s beautiful photos will be seen in an upcoming issue of Canadian Home & Country magazine!

We have two weeks before the Interior Design Show to go! If you can imagine, we have been working frantically to get organized to get our booth space organized - for the third year in a row, we’re working with our sister publications, Canadian Gardening and Style at Home, to put together an inspiring decor space for attendees to enjoy. It’s a great opportunity for us to meet readers (and for new readers to find all three magazines!) I’m including a sneak peek of the motif I’m using to represent Canadian Gardening and Canadian Home & Country…. This image is our decor inspiration (hint, the photograph is actually wallpaper!) (our other hint is that we will be using a fabulous settee upholstered in natural linen. The Interior Design Show runs February 5 - 9, at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. If you don’t get a chance to come to the show, I promise to post images of the finished booth after the show happens! If you have any fun “shamrock” ideas, please send them to me! (nothing about leprechauns will be considered!!!)