A Look at Althorp

When we visited the Theodore Alexander showroom in High Point, we learned that they have an entire Althorp Collection of reproduction furniture.  Althorp is a stately English home in Northamptonshire that is owned by the Spencer family.  While it has over 500 years of history, it is best known as the childhood home of Princess Diana and serves as her final resting place.  As you can imagine, it is very expensive to maintain a home of this size and historic significance which is why Charles Spencer authorized a collection of Althorp reproductions at Theodore Alexander initially to help pay for a new roof.  There was also an attic sale at Christie's last year. We were not allowed to take photos in the Theodore Alexander showroom so I thought it would be fun to look at the home that inspired the collection.  We can't all live in such a magnificent splendor but it is fun to know that we can own the same furniture. 

On a side note, actor Max Irons, son of Jeremy Irons, was recently photographed by Jason Bell for Vanity Fair at Althorp. All the photos with the handsome young man are from that shoot and the black and white photos are a vintage look at Althorp.  There is also a video online of Max Irons at Althorp that gives you an even better look at this stunning house and grounds.  Enjoy!

Max Irons in Wooton Hall

The Library

The South Drawing Room

The Billiard Room

The State Dining Room

The Great Room

The Sunderland Room

The Picture Gallery

The Painters Hallway

The Saloon

The Marlborough Room

King William Bedroom

Max Irons in the King William Bedroom

Oak Bedroom

Prince of Wales Bedroom

Max Irons in the Wine Cellar

The Stables are now home to the Princess Diana exhibition.

A photo of the Stables taken in 1921

Lovely Lime Wood

We're a bit behind with some of the foreign magazines so I just found the September/October issue of Australian Vogue Living on the newsstand yesterday.  I am begging them to offer an online subscription to their fabulous magazine because they always feature the the most amazing interiors.  I immediately fell in love with the Lime Wood Hotel that was designed by British designer David Collins.  His use of color is unsurpassed.  The pale greens and lavenders remind me of Laduree macaroons but yet there is nothing sweet or sugary about the rooms.  They are elegant yet comfortable which is important for a hotel.  I am already thinking of booking a trip so I can enjoy them in person!  

Photos by Richard Powers

Country Couture in Vogue

When I posted the gorgeous home of Pamela Skaist-Levy, one of the founders of Juicy Couture, last year, a reader asked if there were any photos of her partner, Gela Nash-Taylor's home. I couldn't find any at the time which was probably because they were being saved for Vogue. The September 2009 issue has a feature on the English country manor she shares with her husband, John Taylor or Duran Duran, and their family and friends. The bathroom above is one of my favorite photos from the spread by photographer Francois Halard.

Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour is also hosting the premier party for The September Issue documentary this Wednesday night. For those of us not lucky enough to be invited, the film opens in New York August 28th and elsewhere on September 11th. While Tom Ford makes his directorial debut at the Venice Film Festival also on September 11th with his first film, A Single Man, based on the Christopher Isherwood novel. Looks like it's going to be a very fashionable fall!

Happy Summer!

You know there is something wacky going on with the weather when it's sunny and beautiful in England and cold and rainy in New York. Hamish Bowles has even provided photographic proof on his Vogue/Style.com blog, The Hamishphere. Seems he was visiting The Temple, a Palladian folly, that belongs to the British interior designer Veere Grenney and his partner David Oliver. If you remember, I met David, the founder of Paint and Paper Library, at his book debut party at Stark last year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that venerable Mr. Grenney will make the trip over when the next Paint and Paper Library collection debuts this fall which I assume will also have a launch party. It would be nice to meet him in person. Until then, cheers and happy summer!

Photos by David Oliver