Ralph Lauren Home Hits A Home Run

The new RLH Collection from Ralph Lauren Home instantly caught my attention because it is a radical departure from the very glossy, very glam style I usually see in their Boston showroom.

Below are a few favorite pieces.

Copied from an 18th-century Swedish design, the Splat Back Fauteuil features a bleached finish with traces of the original paint.

The Jelly Cupboard, a primitive, step-back cabinet with a heavily worn finish was inspired by a design from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, circa 1850.

The surface of the 18th Century Gateleg Table shows signs of wear, and the piece features vase-turned supports and aged hinges.

A reproduction Dutch Colonial Tea Stove made of fruitwood.

The walnut-frame Rolled Back Sofa, is upholstered with vintage flat-woven hemp and is embellished with down-filled pillows covered in hand-woven vintage cotton.

This late 18th-century-style Drab Coloured Table features a scrub pine top with traces of paint.

The painted Neoclassic Dining Chair was inspired by an original design from the early 19th-century and is upholstered with hand-dyed muslin.

The Sculptor's Pedestal and Covered Urn are made from solid bleached walnut.

The painted fruitwood Bull's Eye Mirror, inspired by a mid-19th-century French design, features hand-carved flowers and ribbons.

All photos via Ralph Lauren Home

The company describes the collection as 'Artisanal Luxe,' being inspired by one-of-a-kind pieces and showcasing period construction details. I love the painted and distressed finishes and the Scandinavian and European influences.

Top Hats and (Horse) Tails

Coaching Weekend · Newport, RI · August 2012

Words To Decorate By

"Know how you live, and make your house serve you."  Richard Mishaan

photo: Elle Decor

Try This At Home

I love this vignette from Swedish design magazine Skona Hem - a summer bouquet in a garden urn and a few collected treasures on an antique chest.

photo: Skona Hem

This month's Try This At Home features some favorite antique resources - From Tone on Tone, a 19th-century Gustavian chest.

Vintage iron garden urn from Relics.

A selection of small gilt mirrors from A. Tyner Antiques.

From Charles Spada Antiques, French mercury glass candlesticks.

An antique French ashtray in the shape of an insect from A Beautiful Mess Antiques, and pictured on their Facebook page here.

On the wall, Farrow and Ball's Smoked Trout.

If you don't have the luxury of a garden full of cutting flowers, the farmer's market is an excellent alternative.

Cottage & Garden

A visit to my favorite shop in Newport, Cottage & Garden, is like a treasure hunt. With an ever changing array of new and vintage furniture, accessories, garden objects and sculpture, as well as a choice selection of books, candles and topiary, you never know what you will find.

Buyer and stylist Michael Sederback runs the shop that was founded by the late Eleanor Gobis and is still owned by her husband John.

Michael's genius is creating the irresistible vignettes throughout the shop.

Bronze sculpture and plaster relief, vellum books and taxidermy.

A selection of volumes from Sowerby's English Botany.

John Derian decoupage paperweights.

Sourcing much of the shop's inventory at estate sales and antique shows, Michael credits his mother with inspiring his love of antiquing as he accompanied her from the time he was a small boy. He lists the Brimfield Antique Show as a favorite.

Michael describes his personal style as eclectic. I'd say there's a little whimsy in there as well. Note the ceramic snail in the bottom of this decorative, vintage birdcage.

Outside the shop are displayed garden ornaments, sculpture, urns and furniture.

I have never left Cottage & Garden empty-handed and was charmed by the ruffled rims of these urns I saw outside.

Here is one of the pair at home in the sunroom.

The day after I stopped by to chat with Michael the shop hosted a reception for John Derian who came down from the Cape to enjoy some Newport hospitality. John on the right, Michael on the left.

Cottage and Garden is located at 9 Bridge Street in Newport, Rhode Island. Telephone: 401-848-8477.