Yesterday we really began to experience what New Orleans is all about. It's below the surface, you know. The one thing I learned is that to know the Crescent City is to leave the cliche of Bourbon Street. Locals pretty much disdain it, so you probably won't find them there.
A delicious, five star breakfast was hosted by KBIS at Luke's. This is where I devoured, with relish, my first beignet. Afterwards we took a quick ride on the trolley then embarked on a walking tour of the beautiful Garden District.
This tree lined collection of streets was a feast of New Orleans architecture at its best. The style is a hybrid of Southern plantation, Caribbean and French. At times Key West and even Lake Worth comes to mind. I was excited to see the home of "Gothic" author Anne Rice but the real treat was running into Mr. Okra larger than life, after having seen him on this beautiful short film! Check it out here if you missed it. It is so worth it, trust me. 
The Big Easy is also known for its antiques galore and so that was next on the agenda. We met up with Shaun Smith of Shaun Smith Home for a tour of some of the best antique shops. 
Shaun Smith, a New Orleans sweetheart. Both his smile and his jacket were a refreshing white. His style retains a New Orleans flavor but with a little New York chic which makes it something uniquely his own.
We also explored Petricia Thompson Antiques, Empire Antiques and an interesting eclectic store called Malachite. Last but certainly not least we met Gerrie Bremermann in her shop. Let me tell you about Gerrie. Remember those amazing homes I just mentioned in the Garden District? Well she's had a hand in making most of them fabulous. She is a much sought after designer in these parts but also, on a larger scale, she's sought out by national publications as a barometer of southern design. Currently in her mid eighties she continues to immerse herself in her trade. She loves it and she is a true inspiration.
When it comes to my own personal taste I loved Shaun Smith Home the best. In fact I believe antiques are at their best when they are a part of a more modern decor where there is enough space for them to be a focal point. Think about it, in a room crammed with antiquity no one gets to be the star!Shaun also carries a couple abstract impressionist artists' work which I admired. He was a gracious host who showed us what southern hospitality is all about.Next up was a visit to the Ogden Southern Art Museum for a book signing by the dynamic designer/author Miles Redd. You can listen to a fabulous interview of him over at The Skirted Roundtable. Mile's book "The Big Book of Chic" is BIG and the many takers are evidence that the world of paper books is still very much alive.
I loved how Miles is not afraid to work out of the box, in fact he works entirely out of the box taking much of his inspriation from great works of art. I am a maximalist, he claims!
The day was made complete by a breathtakingly delicous dinner at Bayona hosted by our sponsor Mr. Steam. I am really enjoying getting to know all the others on the tour. It's amazing how each has such a unique story with creativity and innovative thinking being the common thread. Three more days to go. Wow. Stay tuned, more to come.
The Gilded Age Amidst The Palms
UPDATE 1/24/13 After I wrote this post, local reporter Christine Davis delivered some very interesting and juicy tidbits regarding Whitehall! Here's what she had to say:
Mary Lily (Henry's wife) supposedly moves plates around, so a guide told us once. The story goes she was poisoned! You can read an intriguing account of that theory here.
There's another bizarre story about her that is always denied. It has to do with her being "kept" by Flagler before they were married. From what I remember when I was doing the research, the guy who reported this killed himself. He wasn't taken seriously, although it was said he was a serious historian. I can't remember his name. I asked Mr. Ponce about both incidences. he said his dad was an undertaker so he doesn't believe in ghost stories, and he said Flagler would never had put Mary Lily up at the Seagull Cottage. It was on the lawn of the hotel, and far too visible. He says it just would not have been done...I recently enjoyed a fabulous blog post by the talented Linda Merrill of Surroundings. Through her blog, she can show you homedecor and make you feel like you’re right there in the house! In this particular post she featured famous homes of the Gilded (Downton Abbey) Age. Read her post here. With a nod to her, I thought I’d give you a little taste of the Gilded Age, Palm Beach style! It has been ages since I visited Whitehall a.k.a. The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach. So, in keeping with my new year’s resolution to infuse KFL with some local flavor, I give you Whitehall.
Whitehall was constructed in Palm Beach in 1902 by Oil magnate Henry Flagler as a wedding present for his third wife Mary Lily Kenan (37 years his junior ;). It sits on the banks of the Intracoastal across the street from our famous Breakers Hotel which is located on the ocean side. Besides being massive, this private home boasted modern plumbing and electricity. In fact, Thomas Edison was one of the original electrical contractors! (And you thought he just sat around in his workshop and played with light bulbs.) Whitehall also supposedly had the only telephone located in the Master Bath!
This is a story of the neauveau riche. Flagler, born in 1830, was the son of a minister who was savvy enough to partner with John D. Rockefeller and Samuel Andrews to found Standard Oil. Voila a bazillionaire is born! He also established the Florida East Coast Railroad with train service from Jacksonville to Key West. Incidentally, when approached, Mr. Rockefeller wanted nothing to do with the project, “Why build a railroad for a bunch of mosquitoes?” he said! Good thing Henry didn’t listen. You could say he fathered the tourism industry in Florida by making our corner of Paradise accessible. Speaking of accessible, once you got here, the only means of transportation on the island were boats and something called a bicycle chair. I really wanted to show you the kitchen but sadly it did not survive the transition from home to hotel to Museum.
Mr. Flagler was a patron of young unknown artists and actually founded an artist colony in St. Augustine. So much of the art found in Whitehall is the product of this venture.
Here's what it says below the photo: "Glimpses of the Flaglers' loving relationship are recorded in personal letters and candid photographs. This ca. 1909 photo was taken by the Whiteall's resident organist, Arthur Spalding, who spent a lot of time with the couple and recorded many details of their private life." Kind of creepy if you ask me, no?
The second floor was devoted to private living space for the Flaglers as well as guests and staff. In addition to the Master Suite there were originally 14 guest bedrooms, 13 servants rooms, 17 bathrooms and Mrs. Flagler's sitting room (yes you had to have one of those).
After the Flaglers' deaths, a relative sold the estate to investors who built a large addition and turned it into the Whitehall Hotel in 1925. By 1959 things weren't going so well. The tourism industry was booming but there were also, by this time, many hotels and resorts competing for the business. It was at this time that Henry Flagler's granddaughter, Jean Flagler Matthews purchased the property and opened the The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Inc., a nonprofit corporation. It has been open to the public since 1960.
Upon exiting the estate we came upon the Flagler Kenan Pavilion featuring Flagler's private railcar, a.k.a. Railcar No. 91. He traveled in this car down to Key West via his Overseas Highway in 1912 to celebrate its completion.
Thanks for taking this little Sunday afternoon tour with me! If you'd like more info on The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Inc., click here.
MY KITCHEN & BATH FAVORITES
As a kitchen and bath designer I am constantly assaulted with images of products that are truly "drool-worthy", if I may coin that expression. I am seduced by originality, great function and sometimes simply an undefinable- irrational- attraction (kinda like how I found my husband). Anyway here's what I'm lovin today.Siderna Faucet by Brizo
Everyone knows I've been a big Brizo fan ever since becoming a member of the exclusive Blogger 19 (2.0) last year. Their Siderna bathroom faucet is simply sublime. I love the glass handles and I love the shiny chrome. I know that the popular taste, at the moment, is for brushed nickel but I have to stray from the pack for chrome. The nice thing is, frequently, shiny chrome costs less than the more popular brushed finishes.Sharp Microwave Drawer
I think the best microwave I ever owned was an over-the-range model by Sharp. Now they offer a microwave drawer which I love for many reasons. Although infinitely useful, who wants to look at a microwave? The microwave drawer is unobtrusively located below the counter. It's safer and accessible for the junior chefs in your family. They come in 24" or 30" models which are installed into a base cabinet. Mosaics by Hot Knobs
Hot Knobs is a product of Portland Oregon based Aquila Art Glass. Producing Art Glass Knobs and Pulls was a natural extension for this company known for the production of a variety of hand crafted art glass plates, bowls candle holders, etc. What a great piece of bling this would be for any cabinet. Knobs as well as pulls (handles) are available. The Green River Stone Company
Despite the serial killerish name, this is an awesome product. I just love fossils. There's something about all that antiquity in something you can actually see and feel. This is the ultimate in unique. The Green River Stone Company offers the finest in natural art fossil fish and stone products. The material actually is fossil-rich calcium carbonate shale from their private quarry in Southwestern Wyoming. From this stone, deposited 50 million years ago as sediment in a large freshwater lake, they produce individual fossil specimens, artistic fossil murals, and other stone products for museums, private collectors, interior designers and architects.Aqua & Lime Anyone?
Check this out! Brendan was doing a little modification on these antique doors which I believe belong to an armoire. Since they were done and awaiting delivery, he propped them up in our very cool new greenish design studio and voila'! It's like the chocolate and the peanut butter. They just go together. Wish we could keep them. Now we're looking to steal some doors off of another armoire. I think we may be on to something. Hmmmm
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
One of the hallmarks of a successful business in today's maket- place is the ability to diversify. With that in mind, I take you from our
usual hangout, the kitchen, and into the bedroom. One of our clients is the owner of this fabulous antique headboard. It is made out of beech wood with lots of ornate carving and hand woven wicker. Brendan estimates its age is at least one hundred years.
So what is the problem, you say? The challenge is she wants to move up from a queen to a king sized bed. Not a dilemma at all for Brendan and Trevor, our magicians in the shop. They simply designed an attractive extension on either side. When they're finished the entire piece will be refinished so that the extensions will be undetectable. Now you can call it fit for a king!