The Artistic table at Hillwood

Now open at Hillwood is an exhibit I think most readers of this blog will enjoy, a tabletop exhibition by well known designers utilizing the museum's collections.  While the estate may be known for its amazing fresh flowers (found throughout the house and gardens), Marjorie Merriweather Post was also a passionate collector of porcelains and silver.

Six talented designers have been asked to create tabletop displays in the Dacha sourcing items from the collection. I was there Valentine's day for opening night to see the designers reveal their creations. Hopefully this little tour will whet your appetite to visit before June 10 when the exhibit closes!

The central table was actually created by museum staff exclusively with items from the collection down to historic placecards, matchbooks and ashtrays; A treat to see how Post entertained!

 As always one had to ask if the amazing fresh flowers were real they were so perfect.

The first table inside the door is done by friend of Hillwood, Timothy Corrigan. I saw Corrigan speak 3 years ago at Hillwood's fabulous spring lecture season (read that post HERE). Timothy sourced the silver, including those incredible candlesticks, from the Hillwood collection while everything else was brought in by him in order to create a Jardin Francais.  The porcelain, fabric, and wallpaper all come from collections he has designed for different companies.

Designer Charlotte Moss took inspiration from Post's summer home, Camp Topridge, and created a woodland picnic setting. Moss used china from the Hillwood collection and added silver and fabrics she had designed.  The lush picnic is situated under a lovely tent created from fabric from Charlotte's collection at Fabricut.

Noted author and designer (and blogger extraordinare) P. Gaye Tapp took inspiration from Le Style Pauline in creating her table setting which is a younger, fresher look at how to use fine tableware. Mixed in with precious china were more informal pieces that create a more approachable tabletop.

 Artist Jimmie Henslee, who created the lovely illustrations in her book How They Decorated, provided the backdrop creating a natural setting. Don't miss Gaye next month at Hillwood where she will discuss her book (Information HERE).

Designer Josh Hildreth teamed with Hutton Wilkinson to create a 'Tea for Tou-manova' I believe in reference to the famous ballerina, fitting considering Hillwood's connection with Russia. The Duquette inspired extravaganza is a feast for the eyes laid over a malachite printed tablecloth naturally.

Barry Dixon has created a beautifully serene tabletop for 'A Little Romance' with Post's beautiful purple crystal in front of a lovely screen by talented artist John Matthew Moore (who also created the most lovely painting you can imagine of Post's jewelry for the silent auction).

Lastly, Alex Papachristidis has created a very personal table for 'Le Diner Exotique' using Post's china with his own mother's silver and dining chairs lit by one of his favorite Christopher Spitzmiller lamps. The star of the table however is the lust-worthy faux lilac centerpiece by artist Vladimir Kanevsky (who coincidentally will have an exhibition at Hillwood next year which I'm VERY excited about).

I had the pleasure of hearing Papachristidis speak at Hillwood's lecture this past Tuesday and his passion for design is inspiring. Don't miss this creatively luscious display open in the Dacha at Hillwood until June 10, 2018.

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Charlotte Moss with the ICAA

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of hearing Charlotte Moss speak for the Mid-Atlantic ICAA in Georgetown at the historic Dumbarton House. The Federal styled house, built in 1800, has been a museum since 1928 when it was bought the the Colonial Dames of America.

The house is kept accurate to the time of its building and is a hidden gem here in Georgetown. Not to be missed are the beautiful gardens which are somewhat eclipsed by their famous neighbor up the street, Dumbarton Oaks.

Moss spoke about her latest book, her 9th, Garden Inspirations. Her lecture was so witty, inspiring, and surprisingly down-to-earth that everyone left if not ready to garden, ready to travel and see some of the sights she shared with us! She said time and again that the book isn't a gardening how-to; you won't find planting lists or how deep to plant seeds. Rather you will find inspirational photographs of beautiful gardens and how to use their blooms both inside and outside of your own home.  She believes that everyone may not have a garden, but they can still be influenced by them.

 Moss's appreciation of gardens has changed over the years. She started loving the classic English Garden, which is so influential here in the USA because of our climate. She loves their beautiful flowers but found the style to be high maintenance; difficult for a city dweller who only visits her garden on the weekends. Even with help in the garden she prefers to be very hands on.

After giving up on her dreams of a English styled garden, she moved onto the more formal French gardens, famous for their symmetry. She was also drawn to the style for their love of the sculptural tree, 'No one can shape a tree like a Frenchman' - except perhaps Bunny Mellon whom Moss spoke about at length.  The third favorite garden type she spoke about was the Italian, rare in the USA where our climate is not hospitable to the plants, but if one learns abundance from the French, one can learn ease from an Italian garden.

Collaboration in her gardens in East Hampton are important and Charlotte designed hers with professionals -namely Lisa Stamm and her architect husband Dale Booher. Garden festivals are one of Moss's passions and she travels the world exploring these functions. She may not be able to bring the plants home but she can talk to the gardeners and pick up tips and ideas. They're also generally hosted in some of the most beautiful gardens in the world.

Charlotte spoke personally about her love of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, which she visited first as a 4th grader in Richmond, Virginia, and fell in love with the house and gardens. That love continues to this day as she is on their board of directors and helps in the care of this important site. She believes in historic preservation as one of the most important cultural institutions we have, as do I, because it preserves how people have lived through different times. We can always learn from the past, and as it turns out, from gardens. One can also learn from Charlotte, who encourages us all to ' Do something mad... you can do anything you like with your own house, who cares what anyone else thinks'!

I highly encourage you to grow your collection of Charlotte's inspirational tomes, with the addition of Garden Inspirations and go out there and do something MAD!
Images from Garden Inspirations by Charlotte Moss.

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See Charlotte Moss in DC, May 6 2015

Join the Mid-Atlantic chapter of the ICAA in welcoming Charlotte Moss to historic Dumbarton House on May 6, 2015.  

Following a reception, Charlotte will speak about her latest book, Garden Inspirations.  Afterwards she will sign copies of her books. It should be yet another great event sponsored by the ICAA here in DC!

Hope to see you all there; be ready to be inspired by this fabulous taste-maker and don't forget to bring a copy of your book to be signed!

Tickets are available on the website HERE.
Images via Veranda Magazine and Charlotte Moss.

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