Look who's Popping Up at House Beautiful

I, for one, love my printed magazines. I relish each page, lusting after the lifestyle I see unfolding before me, one beautifully styled room after another.  Magazines have taken a hit in the past few years, and editors are coming up with inventive ways to keep the lover of the printed magazine amused.  Amused I am, and you will be too.
Shax Riegler, editor of House Beautiful and Newell Turner, editor and chief of Hearst  Design Group, along with Charlotte Moss had a lovely breakfast to discuss the details of her pop up editor issue for House Beautiful.

House Beautiful has begun featuring notable pop-up guest editors who infuse their voices and passions into the content of that issue.  Tastemaker Charlotte Moss, the November pop-up editor takes us on a journey of “The Art of Living.”  How do we live in rooms after the decorating is done?  It is about creating inviting rooms that say, “Come on in and stay awhile." 

There is a feature on Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, of which Charlotte is on the board, a piece on the delicate porcelain flowers of Vadimir Kanevsky, and legendary mentors past and present.  

Her love of and respect for the past, people who inspire, and the importance of philanthropy are themes that run through Charlotte’s life and this issue.  On the pages of The Best, Gifts that Give, just in time for the holidays, you can purchase products that give back.  A win/win in anyone’s book (or magazine).

There is a fragrance story which is so clever and strikes a perfect note.  What scents would make a room sing?  A “nose” tells us.  Paul Austin, a "fragrance industry maestro," pairs 5 stylish rooms with their scent  personality.  This exotic room by Alex Papachristidis for example, conjures up YSL in the 70's with his fragrance Opium.  Therefore Paul gave it a woodsy, spicy scent with a hint of rose.         Charlotte shares a playlist to entertain by, wine suggestions, and stunning flowers, all in an effort to create layers of beauty that are a feast for the senses!  That's what creates warmth in a home.  That's what people remember.

Sadly we were asked not to take pictures but you get the idea. It felt really special sitting in her beautiful yard that looked like it could have been plucked off of any European estate, eating a Southern style  breakfast  en plein air.  Thank you, I was happy to be included.

via NY Times

I look forward to seeing who the future pop-up editors will be; same House Beauitful we have come to know and love with a "twist"  ~ On news stands October 22nd.

Want a piece of Ms. Moss?

ph:Pieter Estersohn

Charlotte Moss, an award winning interior designer, author, lecturer, philanthropist, former wall street warrior, world traveler, socialite, etc., etc. is cleaning house.  Known for her refined blend of American and European classicism, Charlotte has seen and done it all.  Decorators accumulate so much.  From various trips, show house rooms, the several homes she has owned (two in Aspen, which truly speak to me), Charlotte will be auctioning off belongings at Doyle New York Auction House, March 7th.  A book signing of her most recent book, A Visual Life (her 8th), on March 5th kicks things off.  Read my post about the book here.

"I have been collecting and decorating for a long time and the time has come to edit, do some redecorating, and make room for new purchases of my own," commented Charlotte Moss about the upcoming sale.

ph: Simon Upton

How I would love to attend this auction.  I have written about the excitement of buying at auction, and while I am not sure this is the auction to get a great deal, they can be had.  Charlotte's auction has generated a tremendous amount of buzz, and I know many designers who are planning to attend, so I imagine the estimates will end up on the low side.  But here's a sampling of the riches:

pair of Northern Italian neoclassical painted and silver gilt console tables

English Chinoiserie Urn

Baltic Neoclassical gilt bronze and cut glass chandelier

18 William Yeoward etched glasses

ph: Pieter Estersohn

Pair of Dutch Delft jars

Glazed porcelain lamps

Continental Rocco style painted commode

Charlotte Moss at Kips Bay Show house

Rococo Style painted daybed

Regency brass bound library table

3 photographs on canvas

Louis XV style iron and steel console table

DeGournay hand painted tea paper panels

Antler Candlesticks

A large assortment of etchings, maps and engravings

There is a lot of things I could get very excited about, the collection includes 400 pieces ~ but alas, I will be unavailable.  I am a great admirer of Ms. Moss' work and her Aspen homes!  Did I ever tell you my story about her home on the west end that I used to ride by, not knowing it was hers?  If you cannot be there in person you can bid online.  Grab a paddle, or your mouse but be careful!  I wonder if anyone has ever gotten addicted?

Charlotte Moss ~ A Visual Life

That Charlotte (no) Moss (grows under her feet) is at it again.  In her 8th book titled Charlotte Moss: A Visual Life, she shares a lifelong passion of scrapbooking, creating collages and the inspiration that makes her one of the great decorators of our time.  She invites other great ladies with a flair for living to share their journey in bits of paper and picture as well.

We all have an instinct to gather things and surround ourselves with those things that comfort us.  We may do it in different ways or it may take on different forms; such as starting a collection of some sort, journalling, even pinning pictures on Pinterest or creating videos.

It can be quite relaxing to just stop a moment and capture pictures that move us.  Whether you are cutting pictures from a magazine or taking your own photos, which Charlotte does, prolifically; It helps you step out of your day, explore, capture a moment or a thing of beauty that you might otherwise not have noticed.

The book is organized by themes:  travel, gardens, interiors, entertaining.  It's a great way for you (and by you, I mean me) to be inspired to get those files off the floor, out of drawers, and onto a working, visual board of beauty.

What's next for Charlotte you ask?  The beautiful photo (below) of a formal garden will soon be transformed via digital printing into clothing a la Mary Katrantzou.  Remember my story on Mary?  I am a huge fan, and I do love this new medium.  It has become very popular with many a designer.  I'm sure Charlotte's rendition will be as exquisite as everything else she has done.

One of the women Charlotte spoke of as an inspiration was Gloria Vanderbilt.  She just happened to be exhibiting her collection of art and collages, so I took a quick peek.  Check back next time...