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Slipcovers!! Seasonal slipcovers save your furniture!

August 12, 2016 By // by Penelope Bianchi 92 Comments

Seasonal Slipcovers!

What I love about slipcovers is so many things!!

My mother was from the “South”. (Lucky me in so many ways having particularly to do with the “HOUSE!”)

She taught me to have four………yes four…… seasonal sets of slipcovers for my furniture.

(My goal is four; I now have three; and I will have four!” )

First of all; when a new season starts; I get a” new house”! It’s almost like having 3 houses in one.

It is just a joy! Even my husband gets excited.

(I actually do this transformation with help, on the actual “first day of fall, Spring, Summer;

unless it falls on a weekend)

Otherwise the following Monday.

The very first day of “fall” The old “Oriental” rugs rugs go back down; All the pillows change, the slipcovers change on the furniture;

and it does almost look like a different house!

So to begin; this is fall. This is our “big hall” a combination living-dining room……

This is FALL!

This picture shows a lot of the furniture! with……

The fall slipcovers.

Deep rust Fortuny on the ottomans; teal on the chair seats, tapestry pillows and some quilt on the banquette, and the rugs and paisley

by the fireplace! (one of the two fireplaces in the room).

Rug and cozy seats around the fireplace on the “seating” side of the room.

(there are two fireplaces one at each end. One at the “seating end”; and another at the “eating end”.

This shot shows the paisley shawl upholstery with the inset vintage needlepoint. Also next to the fireplace.

Also the 18th century fragments of tapestries preserved and made into pillows………

We are not talking, nor doing, “Shabby Chic” loose slipcovers over here. Nothing wrong with them;

just way too “trendy” for this Pasadena decorator. I avoid “trends” like country people avoid “rattlesnakes”.

Just my view!

This is the opposite side of the room!

Directly opposite the other fireplace!

Its oriental rug is a cozy addition.

This is the dining area: this area has its fall and winter backwards Fortuny.

Fall includes my lifelong collection of antique paisley shawls, antique needlepoint

(collected for decades; even some made by me) ;

and the fall cozy colors emerge to replace the Summer pillows and fabrics.

The banquette is covered with my antique tapestry pillows; collected over my lifetime.

My favorites are from Dallas. The tapestry was falling apart; (there is nothing wrong in this)…….

The lady who made these exquisite pillows rescues the intact , fragile parts of the tapestry; and makes exquisite pillows

with antique trim, hand-dyed velvet, and down fills.

They must not be considered “pillows”!

Here are a few examples:

This is one from Dallas. There is a village scene around this tree.

This little creature I found in the flea market in Paris.

You can see that collecting things can give so many layers of beauty and meaning to your house!

(This is one of our dogs; rescued from a freeway on-ramp)! The dogs are fond of the banquette; and the leopard blanket came from Bunny Williams’

recommended dog bed source: “Wally beds” ; totally washable.

Again; Slipcovers. And end of FALL.

NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT SPRING!

HERE IT IS! THIS TRANSFORMATION STARTS MARCH 21st.

TAH DAH!

SPRING!

The main rugs go to storage and the pretty peach floors show.

Cushions pale yellow silk; ottomans yellow Fortuny.

Different pillows and quilt on the banquette.

This close-up shows the spring pillows in better detail.

By the way, the valance is two antique valances sewn together found at an “Antique Show”

Antique shows are great places to find vintage textiles.

And my antique toile coverlet with the hand embroidered work salvaged from some beautiful old sheets made into a pillow by my friend Kathy

(Pillow Beach on Etsy)

The Spring dining chairs have slipcovers of some Chelsea Editions embroidered fabric.

(Rugs not removed yet)

The whole room looking the other direction

We also have “summer slipcovers”…I call it “3 months in the Hamptons”

Please do notice; not one piece of furniture is different .

Same with the “summer installment”.

The whole point is; the comfortable arrangement of furniture does not change.

You feel as though you have gone to your “summer house” with just a change of tailored slipcovers

By the way; another important thing slipcovers do (I also learned from my adored mother);

is that your furniture (if you buy quality; which of course you do) will outlive YOU.

Three or four sets of slipcovers prevents any of them from becoming worn out or faded.

Just select carefully ; and preferably hire a decorator to help you.

Buy the best made upholstered pieces you can possibly afford.. (custom made or from a great consignment store).

and then slipcover like mad!

I truly believe there is much that can be learned from the past.

And old traditions are worth continuing.

Here comes SUMMER!!!

Luna is in her guarding position on the ottoman covered in an antique linen and hemp hand-woven French fabric!

In Spring, these 4 chairs are in vintage red French ticking! In Winter, cozy paisley!
These are covered for Summer in white on white Indian fabric that is all hand appliquéd in various geometric patterns!

You can see the incredible hand-work.

Looking the other direction!

The bay window has different pillows; a combination of some similar Indian appliqué that I found in bright yellow!
My favorite pillow in this group was made from a panel my mother bought in
Europe many years ago; and I found folded in her linens!

Now for an amazing story!

A few years ago,we rented a house in Spain for a week; we had our whole family ! (All 15!!)
I went to a painted furniture place I had always wanted to see; and look what was hanging on the wall!!!

The identical linen panel on another color background!!!

I’m trying to find out where it came from!!

This ottoman is in a vintage red French toile in
Spring; and in a red strie velvet in Winter!

This is another view!

The dining side of the “Big Hall” with Yellow Soulaido French fabric on the chairs !
This fireplace is opposite the other fireplace!
The trumeau mirror is one of a pair with two different scenes with children playing painted on them!

Dog-proof is important!!

Recycling wonderful old textiles is very GREEN!!

I hope this inspires some people to want “Seasonal Slipcovers”!!

It is so much FUN!!!

Slipcovers!! Seasonal slipcovers save your furniture!Read More

French Country Style

May 29, 2016 By // by Penelope Bianchi 26 Comments

Our Home Featured in French Country Style! AGAIN!!!

3 years in a row!

Yikes! What an exciting week!

Fifi O’Neill , the founder and editor in chief of this magazine/book,(and many others! “google” her!)

saw our house and my friend Renee’s house on my blog; ( she expressed interest in both of them)!

and Mark Lohman (a wonderful photographer, and an old friend)

photographed them both for this issue! It just came out; but it will be on the newsstands until July 29th!

I absolutely love the job they did with the wonderful photographs;

(and the writing I think quite captured my philosophy !! And also Renee’s spirit and creativity )!

Fifi is quite the genius! She is unbelievable!!

We couldn’t make the printing bigger; so run out and buy this! The whole issue is just exceptional!! You will want to

add it to your library !

It is in markets (my friend from the “Henhouse”, Elizabeth found two in the Safeway! Cathy my friend in Pasadena found it at “Target!!) and

on newsstands kind of everywhere!

I must say, every article is definitely very educational! I am so proud to be

included in this group of very talented people!!

I actually read the analysis of things that I do! And I learned a lot! Much of my work is instinctive!

It is fun for me to see how it is analyzed!

The cover photograph is of Fifi’s cottage in Florida, where she lives!

Here is the informative, educational, and delightful article on our house!!

French Country StyleRead More

Monterey Colonial garden update! Big difference!!!

May 24, 2016 By // by Penelope Bianchi 3 Comments

Hi there! I have had a lot of requests for more updates on the Monterey Colonial our daughter

purchased a few years ago here in Montecito!

The previous posts are at the end of this post!

She removed some shrubbery crowding this beautiful jacaranda tree; and changed the planting

behind the boxwoods to only purple agapanthus. There were lots of them sprinkled all

over the property; so she moved them all here.

When they bloom under the purple blossoms it will be a show!

Here is the front porch with the Anduze pots with topiaries. Everything simplified!

there is a lovely new gate in the background on the left. It was made to match the back gate.

Around the back of the house; she has added oak leaf hydrangeas, and star jasmine.

Right around the corner.

Another new gate to match the back gate! The pool is on the other side!

Remember when you couldn’t see the pool from the garden? She opened up the hedge!

It is still private; but you have a glimpse!

The beds are also simplified with white agapanthus, iceberg roses and Viburnum.

The original back gate!

The other side!

Behind the above hedge is another whole garden! Avocado trees, wildflowers, fruit trees

and raised potager beds!

3 avocado trees all different species so they fruit at different times!

My favorite! Lavender, matillija poppies, artichokes and herbs! And roses!

I think they are doing a beautiful job of this garden!

I think my favorite of all are these oak trees in the front which were never

“trimmed up”!!!!

Congratulations to our daughter, her husband and their gardener!!!!

Monterey Colonial garden update! Big difference!!!Read More

Marcel Vertes

February 8, 2016 By // by Penelope Bianchi 48 Comments

Some people have requested that I republish a few of my blog posts!

I decided to start with this one!!

I hope you enjoy!

In 1961, my very talented mother was in Paris on a trip. She had admired an artist throughout the 40’s and 50’s. His name was Marcel Vertes; and he was an Hungarian who lived in Paris until the war; and then he lived in New York. He was working in all kinds of mediums. My mother was in advertising; I think that was when she first started following him. He did all the advertisements for Elsa Schiaparelli ; her “Shocking” perfume; even designing the bottle!

He also won an Academy award for set design for “Moulin Rouge.

She timed her trip to coincide with a show of his oil paintings at the Katia Granoff gallery.

In researching for this blog post; look what I discovered!!! A blog post about Marcel Vertes with my bedroom in it! I had never seen it!

Feeling Pink with Marcel Vertes

Hungarian painter, printmaker and illustrator Marcel Vertes (1895-1961) was full of whimsy, as evidenced in the gorgeous series of ads he concocted for Elsa Schiaparelli’s 1937 scent Shocking Pink.

Vertes and Schiaparelli not only worked on this campaign together, they also collaborated on the 1952 film Moulin Rouge, about artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Another ad for Schiaparelli’s Shocking Pink.

Here is an original bottle of the perfume. The curvy torso was inspired by Schiaparelli’s client, Mae West.

Vertes hits the bottle of pink paint again for this portrait of Coco Chanel.

For this buff pink room in designer Penelope Bianchi’s Santa Barbara home, she hung Vertes’ work from floor to ceiling. Photo from House Beautiful. Gorgeous.

POSTED BY BUNNATINE DREAMS

What a total surprise that was! This was a blog posted in April 2011!!

In any case,

My mother timed her trip to coincide with a show of his oil paintings at the Katia Granoff gallery. He died shortly before the exhibit, in 1961.

I was 14 years old. She told me that she loved his art, his whimsy, his colors, and his animals. She also said she loved his women because they reminded her of me!!

She bought 5 paintings the first day. My stepfather told her to go back and buy another one; because she had two children! There should be an even number!!

This one was the sixth!

This was the beginning of a lifelong collection of the work of one artist by my mother, my brother, and by me!

“Columbine en Vacances”

This is a beautiful one that was above our living room mantle while I was growing up!

We had a fire in 1982, and one of my mother’s Vertes oils was lost. I bought this one from my dear Tony Duquette and Hutton Wilkinson; and after I had purchased it, they told me it had belonged to Elsie de Wolfe. My mother gave me her book, The House in Good Taste; which had inspired me to become a decorator!!

This is a watercolor I bought in New York. An almost identical painting was in the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis auction at Sotheby’s

This lovely 3 panel screen I bought in Los Angleles; and I was told it belonged to “Gypsy Rose Lee”!

I was a bit skeptical; but there it was in a picture in a book written about her by her son!

One day in an antique store; my daughter saw this fire screen made of needlepoint; and said…..”Mommy, isn’t that a Vertes???

I had not known he did a collection of needlepoint canvases!

I bought this water color in New York when I bought the other one with the girl in the bikini!

Look what I found on ebay! I had it made into a chair slip and it sits right under the painting!

another ebay find…a signed and numbered lithograph.

the collection you saw in the blog in the beginning is a series of lithographs about the circus! Here are some close ups of a few of them.

His women always are drawn being loving to animals.

And loving to children.

A college friend of our daughter’s saw the top one of this pair in a gallery in Berkeley and called me about it! What an eye that Stephen Watkins has!! He was 19! (now he’s 46!) I am still thanking him!

The bottom one another ebay bonus!

I had a pillow made from this scarf he designed for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A lithograph of a pole dancer from the “le Cirque” series !

just a delightful whimsical lithograph.

During the war, Marcel Vertes did these gorgeous murals in the “Cafe Carlyle” in the Carlyle Hotel in New York City.

It is probably my favorite room in the whole world!

Bobby Short sang there for many years; and we went every single time we were in New York!

50 years of smoke and dirt had covered up the lovely colors; and thank the Lord, the manager decided to keep the murals and clean and restore them!

They are glorious!!

Our last time in New York, we heard Elaine Stritch doing her amazing show.

He painted this room in return for room and board.

Ludwig Bemelmans lived there at the same time (the author of “Madeline”)

He painted “Bemelmans’ Bar! A totally delightful and whimsical set of murals!

See the women with the animals???

I adore the dog holding the hat!

and the lovely girl with the horse!

Crazy about the cat!

Treat yourself to a visual feast! Go look at this room when in New York!

My assistant insists I tell the story about the first oil painting; the nude painted in 1941. “Columbine en Vacances”

When our house is on a “fund raising tour” I love to walk with the “tourists” and pretend I am one and listen to what they have to say! (I think our houses have been on about 12 various tours). Once, I was walking behind a couple at our house in Pasadena. (The docents all knew what I was doing; so they wouldn’t give me away) This man announced quite loudly to his wife, “THAT is Mrs. Bianchi!! Can you imagine having a NUDE painting of yourself in your living room??!!” “Outrageous!!!”

I couldn’t look at the docent; I would have burst into hysterical laughter! It was painted before I was born……but my mother did always say that his women reminded her of me!

I consider that an enormous compliment to me from my beloved mother!!

I have been lucky enough to collect 35 of his pieces. Oils, lithographs, silk screen prints, even two plates hand made in Vallauris when Picasso was working there!

I hope you enjoyed this tour of my collection! I feel incredibly lucky to have them!

Marcel VertesRead More

The last “by invitation only”! WHAT AN HONOR!!!!

December 19, 2015 By // by Penelope Bianchi 11 Comments

Hi there!

This is the last of “By invitation only”

I adore that Marsha; who started it. I have no idea how she did it; and I am still

relying on her to connect me with “Mr. Linky” tonight !

My first experience with a blog (and there was not such a word)

was with www.Newyorksocialdiary.com.

I read about it….and bought a computer so I could go on the internet and read it!

That is the God’s truth!

I love it to this day….and it is the only thing my darling husband reads

on the internet!

Then I started reading other things….David Patrick Columbia never used the

word “blog”. I don’t think it was invented yet!

I discovered “AnAesthete’s Lament”

Lordy! what a treasure!

All I know about blogs is the friends I have made! Starting with

David Patrick Columbia….we are fast friends….

Look!!!

I was just in New York…..and he wrote a post on me! It is funny!

(CLICK PLEASE…..I DON’T KNOW HOW…..TO DO IT!)

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/social-diary/2015/photobombing-along-ole-broadway

I was in New York for a fun and wonderful celebration

with my daughter’s childhood and lifelong friend’s triumph on Broadway with

his movie being made a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber!

All in a blog! Then my blog! (oh, I haven’t blogged about it yet

but I will!)

My friends Brooke and Steve Giannetti……

seriously great and true friends met because of her blog.

I seriously choke up when I talk about them Such treasured friends. All through blogs. All.

All because of blogs. Hers. and she encouraged me. Why I have one.

James Andrew! Are you kidding? The coolest and most wonderful friend and man!

www.whatisjameswearing.com

I just had lunch and dinner with him in New York!

(with Emily Evans Eerdmans who has abandoned her blog and is writing important books and has an important antiques store that is seriously fabulous!)

Did James and McBee and I and my dogs have fun here in Montecito???

You decide!!!

Elizabeth…..la contessa…..the incomparable divine friend

sent from heaven….and her beloved aunt lived less than a quarter of a mile from me..in my

favorite house in all of Montecito…..are you kidding?

The gifts of blogs have been great!

do I think they are about over?

Yes. I do.

I posted a blog about meeting Donna Karan here in Montecito

and wearing a coat she designed 43 years ago…..(I am not kidding)

when she was 25 and working for Anne Klein! She recognized it in the bookstore

in Montecito! I saw it on her face! She did! It was such a thrill….and I wrote about it;

and she recognized it! It was a thrill for both of us!

(she said I “made her year”!) She made my “decade”!

What fun!

Who knows?

What I do know is that blogging has been wonderful for me;

I have met great people….and had great fun!

And thank you Marsha for organizing all of this for us! Elizabeth and I will meet up with you somewhere! And soon!

We are all terribly sorry you had to go through that awful

thing with your husband….I am so sorry……and I know we all are!

You are a great leader!!

Brava !!!

THANK YOU AND WE LOVE YOU!!!!

The last “by invitation only”! WHAT AN HONOR!!!!Read More

New tv show! “The Real Houses of….”

October 19, 2015 By // by Penelope Bianchi 7 Comments

Our house is featured in an episode of “The Real Houses of…..” on the W network in Canada!

The series of shows were filmed this last Spring; and were shown this fall season. We were in the episode “Southwest USA”; and we thought they did a nice job of showing our house!

They were lovely to work with; and it is fun to see what their perspective was ! The other houses in the episode were completely different!

It is always an experience to see yourself on television!

If you want to see the whole episode; here is the link to download and watch: http://we.tl/rXzhWdviVH

I hope you enjoy!!!

New tv show! “The Real Houses of….”Read More

A blogpost from Brooke at Velvet and Linen about me!

July 15, 2015 By // by Penelope Bianchi 5 Comments

This was a post a few years ago by Brooke Giannetti at Velvet and linen!

an evening with penelope bianchi and lars bolander…

Having never attended school for interior design, I’ve always wished that I had a mentor. There have been a few times when I have met other eccentric, like minded designers, but they have never been receptive to sharing their knowledge.

Then in January 2009 I started receiving wonderful comments on V&L from Interior Designer Penelope Bianchi. I didn’t know anything about her, but I could tell from her comments we shared a similar design aesthetic. Her comments were always honest and straight to the point. She wasn’t afraid to share her opinions and offer advice. In a recent comment she explained that “drapes” are for coffins and “curtains” are for windows. Like I said, she is very straight forward!

A couple of months ago, I received my copy of House Beautiful and fell in love this Santa Barbara home.

Image via House Beautiful

The interiors had a collected “undecorated” feel to them.

Image via House Beautiful

The pink plaster made the rooms glow!

Image via House Beautiful

This image actually inspired me to paint my bathroom pink.

Image via House Beautiful

The rooms were perfect in their imperfection!

Image via House Beautiful

That day I brought the magazine with me to carpool pick up so that I would have some time to read the article while waiting for Leila to get out of school. Thank goodness all of the windows were rolled up (and I was sitting down!), because I screamed when I read that this gorgeous home was actually the home of Penelope Bianchi! This was more proof (if I needed any) that Penelope and I were kindred spirits.

Then last week I received an e-mail from Penelope inviting Steve and me to Lars Bolander’s book signing at her home. Penelope and Lars Bolander! This was an event that I definitely could not miss. So yesterday Steve and I drove up the coast to Santa Barbara for a once in a lifetime evening…

This was my “love at first sight” moment. The gravel path…

The gates made out of thick twisted vines…

The aged lanterns.

As we walked into the gravel courtyard, we were greeted by Penelope’s charming, vine covered guest house.

Mismatched terra cotta and stone pots, whimsical garden statues, and a pair of lacy iron benches flanked the welcoming entrance.

The shutters were weathered to gray perfection.

I yearned to be a guest staying here! I could imagine waking up, sipping tea and warming myself by the fire.

Walking out of the guest house doors, we faced the gorgeous garage with its wavy tiled roof (Penelope later explained that she asked her contractor to tell the roof installers to lay the roof as if they were drunk!) and magnificent gray doors.

The landscaping of the entire property had a lush overgrown quality that added to its old world charm. Penelope had to explain to her gardner that he needed to throw out his trimmers and blower. No pruning allowed.

Potted boxwood ball topiaries, geraniums, and citrus were so authentically Mediterranean.

Between the main house and the guest house was a small gated hidden pathway.

The main home was divine. Covered in vines, moss, and patina!

We walked through the Bianchi’s home to the back yard where we were greeted by the beautiful smile of the man of the evening: Lars Bolander! Although we sell his book in the store, I couldn’t resist buying a copy for him to sign.

Finally we meet! Yes, this is the amazingly talented (and beautiful too!) Penelope Bianchi, shimmering in silver.

Penelope was kind enough to take time away from her hosting duties to give us a tour of her magnificent property.

We walked across the back patio….

through a gravel covered space populated with three iron chaise and…

a wonderful array of cement animals.

The Bianchi’s garden was a visual explosion!

Everywhere we turned we viewed gorgeous vignettes.

A sitting area was nestled between two trees behind the house.

Walking down this lushly landscaped path, we had no idea what to expect.

As the landscape opened wider, we found ourselves in front of the Bianchis’ duck pond. Penelope placed the duck house in the middle of the pond so the ducklings would be safe from predators.

As Penelope explained to me, the entire back yard is dedicated as a natural bird habitat.

Even a fallen tree provides housing for wild life.

Penelope guided us back towards the house…

We walked past the house in the other direction…

only to discover another lushly landscaped path….

That lead us to: The Chicken Coop!

Penelope kindly allowed us to enter the coop after hours (the chickens have the “free range” of the property and walk themselves back to the coop at night).

Most of the chickens were too fast and blurry for Steve to capture, but the rooster was cool and relatively still.

Penelope built another house for the chicks and their moms.

Walking around to the other side of the house, we stopped at another fabulous outdoor dining area.

Penelope’s friend Richard joined us and described the parties that took place in this space so vividly that Steve and I felt as if we had attended those events.

As we turned the corner we caught a glimpse of the Bianchi’s grandchildren’s play house.

An Asian inspired bridge crossed the dry creek that creased the property.

Penelope’s stories about each area were captivating.

After touring the grounds we headed back towards the main house, where Penelope told us a story about the owl house she placed here.

She was very excited when she saw some rustling in the house, thinking she finally had an owl. Out popped one of her hens who had somehow found its way up on the roof and had babies in the owl house!

This is the outside of one of the most magnificent rooms in the house.

Inside we experienced the indoor/outdoor garden space where the vines were just as welcome as the guests.

A small desk sat in the corner. A perfect place to work and connect with the gardens.

This is where I would sit and read or just enjoy the landscape.

We left the garden room to join the party in the main house. The central room of the Bianchi’s home is large but very warm and inviting.

Penelope created several cozy sitting areas in the space.

Who wouldn’t feel comfortable sitting in one of Penelope’s chairs by the fire?

The window seat was filled with a glorious abundance of vintage textile pillows.

The walls were covered in faded paintings and antique mirrors…

We left the main room and entered the master bedroom. Oh how wonderful is this bed nook!

The large ottoman at the foot of the bed hides the television.

A small desk sat on one side of the room.

I think the bathroom was my favorite room. I loved the corner sink cabinets and the placement of the vanity in between. All of the colors are wonderfully muted.

The tub is the Queen, sitting majestically at the end of the room.

Steve pulled me out of the bathroom to continue the tour… Even the laundry room was inspiring. I need one of those drying racks. It’s so practical hanging from the ceiling.

Only Penelope would light the back hallway with three of these tole ceiling fixtures from John Rosselli.

Even the hallway was a place where I wanted to linger.

Back in the main living room, I met some Velvet and Linen readers: Laura, her husband Cleveland (sorry Cleveland, you blinked!), and their daughter Brooke (visiting from her studies abroad).

We spent a few more moments chatting with fellow Lars Bolander admirers, before we started on our drive back to Los Angeles.

I took one last look at the Bianchi’s magical home, trying to remember all of the details and the amazing evening we just experienced.

Thank you to my friend and mentor, Penelope Bianchi. You’ve had more of an impact on my life than you will ever know.

Brooke

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as “to the trade” furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.

A blogpost from Brooke at Velvet and Linen about me!Read More

A lifelong collection of a "Happy Bird"!!!

July 15, 2015 By // by Penelope Bianchi 98 Comments

I was minding my own business, (yes working!) looking for furniture for clients in my favorite antique store in our area; and this bird; this happy little bird caught my eye!

What a delightful, fey,whimsical, little bird! I was captivated!

And look!!!

Shelves all over the store filled with them!

plates,bowls. platters of all sizes, cups, saucers, espresso tiny cups and saucers! Oh my heart!!!

There had to be story about all this; I could see subtle differences in the glaze color, in the application of the trims; and even slight differences in the bird!

I asked the owners, (twins who know everyone and everything about Santa Barbara County for the last 100 years!)

“Oh yes, Mrs. Flood collected this pattern for 50 years or more!”

Oh happy day! …

A lifelong collection of a "Happy Bird"!!!Read More

Garden update on the Monterey Colonial in Montecito!

May 4, 2015 By // by Penelope Bianchi 12 Comments

The gardens have been worked on extensively for the past few months!

Huge improvements!!!

Not too much has changed in the front;

Things are starting to bloom!

The real changes are on the side….

what was a shady mess where nothing much would grow

To a charming space! Bricks (hand-made ones…that is key!!) are laid in sand…..not mortar….that is key also!

So elegant and slim lines between….and easily moved here and there!!!! No mortar!!! (then it becomes “hardscape”; an anathema to me!)

This is so lovely! They added the old brick steps…..and two stone benches.

Looking toward the pool.

They changed the terrace from terra cotta tile to brick; added the steps and replaced the lawn on either side of the pool with brick. (Old, hand-made brick much of which was elsewhere on the property!)