Books, Gardens and other Quiet Delights

Having just come off the back of a year of intense writing for not one but three huge book projects, I have been spending a few quiet July days in our small garden before the next lot of publishing deadlines and work trips. Like my mother -- who has just returned from seeing some extraordinary gardens and landscapes in Alaska and Vancouver -- I'm always grateful for the chance to be in a garden. I always think that gardening is underestimated as therapy: it's not only beneficial for the weary mind and body but it can also inspire and energise the creative spirit. Out among the new seedlings and parrot tulips, I've been working on lots of new ideas for 2017; some of which -- like my clematis -- may never flower! But hopefully a few of them will bloom. That's the thing with both gardening and life. You never know what's going to emerge in the future...

And so here, in tribute of the northern hemisphere summer and the southern hemisphere spring, is a small ode to the quiet delights of horticulture.

As always, feel free to follow on Instagram here -- LINK

THE SECRET DELIGHTS OF SEEND MANOR

One of the most beautiful gardens in England is the wonderfully named Seend Manor in Wiltshire. I was alerted to this beautiful English estate by a friend, and immediately told a few other garden-loving friends about it, one of which replied straight away to tell me that she knew the owners. (Such is the world of social media!)  Apparently Seend Manor's owners are just as charming and gracious as their glorious flower beds. ( If you don't yet follow Amanda Seend on Instagram, her link is here -- Amanda Seend  ) 

The garden is open to the public once a year, but designer Amanda Bunt has written a moving post to its many horticultural secrets here -- Seend Manor I love the fact that it moved Amanda to tears. 

A CONVERTED GARDEN SHED

Some of you may have seen this gorgeous garden room in the May issue of British House and Garden magazine, but if you missed it, here's the link -- Emma Burns Garden Library  Emma Burns is the senior decorator at Colefax & Fowler, but it seems her talents extend to architecture and landscaping, too, if this remarkable garden shed is anything to go by. Formerly a rustic barn used to house garden tools, it was converted to a garden library-cum-guest-cottage that's also filled with Emma's precious collection of books. One part of it is a mezzanine work area; another an indulgent bathroom. But the most beautiful part is undoubtedly the library, which extends along an entire wall. As Emma explains: 'It used to be a glorified garden shed, and though it seemed daft to have so much space and not do anything with it, we couldn't decide what. Then we moved from our old house in London into a much smaller one and ended up with all these books sitting in storage, so we decided to make it into a book room.'  

It's so lovely that it's a wonder Emma's guests ever leave. Link is here -- Emma Burns' Garden Library

 A GARDEN HOUSE TO BUY

We are constantly looking for the next property to buy and restore or renovate. (Well, I am; my partner just rolls his eyes now, especially when I present him with run-down estates with overgrown gardens and neglected architecture that would take a bulldozer to fix.) While our future home remains a question mark (we may have to move into our tiny investment property on St Kilda Road, after all!), someone will be assured of a extraordinary life with this historic 1854 house and garden called 'Wickham', currently for sale here -- LINK  

It's actually located just around the corner from where we live, in a beautiful part of Victoria called Harkaway. (Yes, we looked at it, but the price tag and heritage overlays were too prohibitive.) It's one of the prettiest properties I've ever inspected, with a grand carriage drive, a coach house, a summer house (a very cute octagonal retreat), pool, stables, even a historic smoke house. But while the outbuildings may need restoration, the house is immaculate, and is a rare example of an untouched floorplan from the mid-1800s. The highlights include a beautiful drawing room, an enormous kitchen with servery, and a gorgeous enclosed conservatory with a brick floor and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to an elegant arbour. 

Imagine ripping up the worn old tennis court and putting in an Edwardian picking garden? Let's hope it goes to a garden lover.

DOLCE AND GABBANA'S GARDEN COLLECTION

Have you seen Dolce and Gabbana's new botanical garden-inspired collection for A/W 2017? There are dresses imprinted with garden parties, skirts emblazoned with bold palm prints and bags made of pretty wicker. My favourite is the pair of shoes designed like trellis, and the whimsical handbag that looks like a miniature version of the Petit Trianon summer house at Versailles. The collection is a magnificent tribute to the grand gardens of the Victorian era, but it's all done with Dolce and Gabbana's endearing whimsy and eye-catching drama.

www.dolcegabbana.com

HERMES' GARDEN SCARVES

Hermès has also been bringing out a number of exquisitely ornate garden scarves each year. The latest is the beautifully ornate Au Pays des Oiseaux Fleurs (above), which comes in various colourways, but Le Jardin de Leila, which was part of last year's collection (and which I bought to celebrate a special occasion), was heavenly, too. LINK HERE

www.hermes.com

BOTANICAL CHANDELIERS

Finally, if you're looking for something to enhance your sun room, Canopy Designs in the US creates these sublime porcelain chandeliers that look like something you'd find in an enchanted forest. There are various designs, but this is perhaps the prettiest; a tumbling, wondrous delight of intertwining vines, leaves and buds. They also do bespoke work, so you can create your own botanical-inspired lighting. The link is here -- CANOPY NATURE-INSPIRED CHANDELIERS

Snapshots from a Tour of Homes and Gardens around the World

If you follow my Instagram feed -- LINK, you'll know that I've been living out of a carry-on suitcase for a while, travelling around the world to look at gardens, houses, and cities for several new books. I'm now home for a few weeks, and I have to say, after endless airports, being home has never made me so happy!  For those who aren't on Instagram, here are some of the places and spaces I've been privileged to have visited. Many of them are open to the public (some every day; others only on a few days each month or year), and so if they pique your interest do bookmark their links. That's the best thing about social media: discovering all these fantastic destinations. I'm back on the road in late July, so feel free to follow on Instagram. Wishing you a wonderful week, wherever you may be. 

Link HERE or www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author 

ITALY (LAKE COMO)

Confession: In between all the books and work, I've been trying to design a line of luggage. (A long-held dream after I lost a favourite Armani jacket to a toiletry spill.) Part of the R&D has been in Milan, where elegant bags are a way of life. These pix are from a research trip to Como, squeezed in between photo shoots in Milan, although the highlight of the day was not the textiles but a fleeting visit to the famous Villa del Balbianello. I wanted to do a formal shoot of this garden for a future book on Italy, but the rain was relentless, so it turned into a tourist visit -- which is often the best way to see a place. In fact, rain makes you put down the camera and really see the landscape with your eyes.  Unlike most of the other villas on Lake Como, Balbianello is set on a promontory, so its garden has been created from curving paths and magnificent views, rather than long, formal, Italian-style allées. The best way to reach is by ferry to the pretty village of Lenno, then a walk along the waterfront and through the villa's private parkland (rear gate open Tues/Sat/Sun only). Alternatively, the water taxi, although pricey, offers magnificent views of the villa from the lake.  It's one of the most famous villas in the world and remains one of my all-time favourite gardens. Even in the rain.  www.villabalbianello.com

WHERE TO STAY: www.relaisvillavittoria.com, a romantic hotel at Laglio, right on Lake Como. Or its neighboring estate www.villareginateodolinda.com -- just as beautiful.

WHAT TO READ: The just-published Gardens of the Italian Lakes (May 2016).

ITALY (PORTOFINO)

I've always wanted to visit Portofino after seeing the film 'Enchanted April'. So we squeezed a weekend here for a romantic escape and this was the view (middle pic) that we opened our window to at 6AM, as the sun rose over the Italian Riviera.  Even though a posh wedding had pulled into town (the father of the bride had paid for an airline to transport all the guests), the gentle port was still idyllic, especially on Sunday when the 200 wedding guests all wore white for the after-party in the village square! Leaving the partygoers, we hiked along the coast to the glorious monastery garden at Cervara Abbey (bottom right), which is open once a month, and then later walked the trails and terraces behind the castle to peek into the villagers' veggie gardens. I don't know which was more beautiful: the abbey's parterre, or the tiny potagers planted up the mountain? If you've avoided Portofino so far, do see it. The romance clearly worked because it's now my favourite place in the world.

WHERE TO STAY: The Hotel Piccolo is reasonably priced, and has its own cove for swimming. Try to time your visit for when Cervara Abbey is open ( www.cervara.it/en ); the garden (bottom right) is rated one of the best in Italy.

PARIS

A night's stopover in Paris was just enough to race around and see the latest places. My favourite was Tory Burch's new and much-talked-about flagship boutique on the Rue Saint-Honoré. It's designed with a coolly sophisticated colour palette that cleverly references Paris' famous architecture and sky. (Even the pale blues seem to match Paris' famous doors.) Its designer Daniel Romualdez (who lives in Bill Blass' former home -- LINK) is adept at creating spaces that feel luxurious while still being understated, and his work has made this beautiful boutique a must-see for design fans, whether you buy anything TB or not.  412 Rue Saint Honoré, Paris.

WHERE TO STAY: The stylish new Hotel Providence, 90 Rue René Boulanger, www.hotelprovidenceparis.com Or the classically beautifully Hotel Castille, next to Chanel at 33-37 Rue Cambon. www.castille.com/en

PROVENCE

If you ever get the chance to see the South of France in late April, grab it, for there is nothing like Provence in spring. The light, the flowers, the fragrances, the flavours... I always feel fortunate when I come here, and the four days I spent in late April was no exception. I shot two remarkable gardens for forthcoming books: Le Louve in Bonnieux , and Pavilion de Galon in Curcuron.  The former garden was designed by Hermès' former head of design Nicole de Vésian, and is a spectacular green and white garden designed to look like a tapestry. It's still private but it's open to the public, although you need to book a tour through the website — www.lalouve.eu (And if your French is rusty, like mine, just use Google Translate to convert your email before you send it; it's courteous  to write in French and their reply will be quicker.) La Pavilion de Galon, which is nearby, is a former hunting lodge that's now an exquisite country garden done entirely in purples and blues created by noted French photographer Guy Hervais and his beautiful wife Bibi. You need to stay there to see it, but it's worth it; wandering the enormous iris garden at first light is an experience I'll never forget. The garden is best in either mid-spring, when it's blanketed in irises and wisteria, or in summer, when all the salvias are out. The landscape in this part of Provence is truly extraordinary; gentle roads meandering through villages and around mountains, with views that make you want to stop the car at every turn. No wonder Peter Mayle has returned here to live.

WHERE TO STAY: Pavilion de Galon www.pavillondegalon.com

LONDON

For two brief few weeks in May and June each year, London erupts in flowers. Streets are garlanded with embroidered trims of pale pink and purple wisteria, front gardens explode with roses, and of course the huge Chelsea Flower Show pulls into town; like a giant scented circus. Some of the best places to see gardens, particularly the wisteria, are the little streets and mews lanes around Launceston Place, although Notting Hill and Chelsea are good wisteria-hunting grounds too.  

I have to admit I love wandering the streets of Chelsea, Pimlico and Kensington in May, where the flower-filled boutique windows are often just as good as anything you'd find at Chelsea.  Of course, the famous flower show is still a great insight into the newest horticultural trends, but it's increasingly impossible to see (or shoot) the gardens with the crowds, and the ticket prices have skyrocketed to the point of ridiculous. A better option is to grab a map of all the entrants in either the Chelsea in Bloom or Belgravia in Bloom festivals (usually available from any store with flowers out front), and do your own free walking tour. Many streets, particularly those in Pimlico, are a veritable festival of petals. Furthermore, some boutiques offer fantastic classes.  This year, David Linley put on a willow weaving workshop (above), to match the giant willow displays that were in front of his store. You can see easily why these various fringe festivals (there are several others in London at this time beside the Bloom ones) are overtaking the Chelsea Flower Show in the popularity stakes.

WHERE TO STAY: My favourite London hotels are still The Pelham (Kit Kemp's interior design without the Firmdale price), The Ampersand, and Blakes (opt for the Designer Double rooms),  which are all in South Kensington and thus close to the museums, parks, and bookstores and fabric shops of King's Road. However, the newly renovated Flemings in Mayfair (above, with green banquettes), is a pretty and ideally located bolthole for those who want to be closer to the West End. www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk

THE COTSWOLDS

If you go to the Cotswolds a lot, you may think you've seen it all. But this trip I discovered several places I never knew existed. One was Chastleton House. Scene of the BBC series Wolf Hall, it's a perfectly preserved Jacobean mansion filled with extraordinary period rooms, many featuring superb tapestries and furniture. But the most fascinating thing about Chastleton is its families. Each generation became poorer and poorer until the last owner lived in just one room. But the lack of modern updates meant that poverty actually preserved the house. (There's a wonderful article here.) Some critics feel that it's a bit too 'lost in time', and that perhaps a bit of furniture polish and some flowers wouldn't go astray. But I saw only beauty and dignity and grace: a house that has lived a thousand lives and is still looking fine for her age. Just look at this tapestry, which covered a whole wall of the bedroom. Even the long walk to the house, through a pretty field, was part of the charm. Wonderful. Just wonderful. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chastleton-house

WHERE TO STAY: The Wild Rabbit, a chic hideaway with a famous restaurant. www.thewildrabbit.co.uk Or The Wheatsheaf, an upmarket pub with luxurious rooms  at affordable prices. www.cotswoldswheatsheaf.com Temple Guiting is another swish place; a grand manor with a superb garden, but rates are high. (You have been warned.)

WILTSHIRE AND DORSET

If you saw last year's film Far From The Madding Crowd, and loved the Dorset landscape in which it was filmed, then put this place on your To See List. Mapperton House (above) was the setting for Bathsheba's farm although the best part, the garden, wasn't featured in the film (I would have included it!), probably because Bathsheba's farm was meant to be run down and this amazing garden may have cast doubt on that. Set in a deep valley behind the manor house, it's a formal garden of topiaries and terraces that extends from a stunning conservatory (above) to a series of grand swimming pools (bottom left). I only had an hour here and wished I could have spent longer. It's magnificent. Completely and utterly magnificent. Don't miss the secret corners, including the two-story summer house. http://mapperton.com

WHERE TO STAY: We stayed in a tiny pub in a tinier fishing village called West Bay (where Broadchurch is filmed), but if we returned we'd try and stay at Lyme Regis, specifically Belmont House, which is one of the prettiest places in the south. LINK

NEW YORK

Manhattan is always magic in spring, and on this visit I made sure that I made time to see the New York Botanic Garden, which my friend Lee had said was a 'must see'. Inside the gardens, the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden was not only peaking, it was the best rose season they'd ever had. But the famous conservatory was enthralling too, especially the 'Impressionist' garden  that had been recreated as part of the American Impressionism exhibition. A fundraising ball was held the afternoon I was there, and this was just one of the arrangements. If you're heading to New York, jump on a train at Grand Central and head here, before the roses fade. It's a spectacular part of Manhattan than many tourists (myself included) miss. www.nybg.org

WHERE TO STAY: I usually love The Roger or The Nomad, but this time I stayed in a new and very cute boutique hotel called The Gregory, near Bryant Park. Themed around books and fashion, it's  incredibly cheap, and has lovely staff and a superb restaurant next door that's reminiscent of a historic old New York bistro -- high ceilings, huge fireplace, timber panelling, crips white tablecloths.  The suites at the front are best. A truly gorgeous little Manhattan hideaway. www.thegregoryhotelnewyork.com

NANTUCKET

A quick flight from JFK takes you to Nantucket, a dazzling island off Cape Cod that's becoming renowned for great design. This has long been one of my favourite places in the world. This gentleman above is Gary McBournie, a gorgeous designer I've known for years who has a weekender on Nantucket with his lovely partner Bill. (You may have seen their house in the May issue of House Beautiful). There is a lot of new construction going on all over the island, but the influx of money means there's also a lot of beautiful new boutiques and hotels and bistros. Here are some of my favourite new places from the weekend:

WHERE TO STAY: 74 Main, a sophisticated boutique hotel with glamorous rooms www.76main.com Or The Roberts Collection, a recently renovated hotel with several buildings -- I stayed in The Gatehouse -- www.therobertscollection.com The former has better service and better rooms, but is more difficult to book because it's so popular. The latter is cute but perhaps be patient with the 'casual' attitudes. 

WHERE TO EAT: I loved Met on Main (two photos on right) for the beautiful wallpapers and banquettes, but the cutely named 'Cru', a yacht-club-style hangout at the very end of the wharf, had a great vibe, gorgeous staff uniform, and of course that inimitable view that only Nantucket can do.

Then it was back to New York, flying low over the Hamptons, and a final few days of R&R in New York before heading back to Australia. 

More gardens and homes are scheduled for July and August, so do join Instagram if you'd like to follow. And -- as always -- email me for any travel tips -- or just to say hello. janelle.mcculloch@bigpond.com

janelle(dot)mcculloch@bigpond.com

Celebrating Flowers, London and Life

One of the lovely projects I've just finished photographing and writing is a new guidebook about London, called LONDON SECRETS, which is to be published later this year by my former publisher (and employer, when I was a book editor), Images Publishing. It's designed to be a companion to the bestselling PARIS SECRETS -- details of which are here. London is going through a huge design revival at the moment, and it's always a joy to return to this city, which seems to look beautiful regardless of whether it's drizzling and grisaille grey or shimmering under silvery sunshine. 

I'm now working on a beautiful garden book for a major publisher, which involves writing abut gardens in the UK, France, Italy, the US, the Caribbean and other destinations. So if the blog and Instagram posts are sporadic, that's why, and I hope you'll forgive me. As compensation, here are some glorious garden bits and pieces to celebrate the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. (And a few travel tips for London, too.)

LONDON -- NEW SPACES AND PLACES

(From the new LONDON SECRETS book, published by Images in late 2016)

I love London. It's my second home. But the city is changing so fast at the moment that it feels like there's something new going up every week. Of all the new architecture appearing in London, some of the most exciting buildings are the new hotels, which seem to be sprouting like spring bulbs at the moment. Two of the most talked about are the Hotel Costes on Sloane Square (still to break ground, but not far off), and a new hotel planned by bestselling writer Alain de Botton called The Philosopher's Hotel. The latter project is tucked away in the serene, leafy streets of Hampstead, and is being billed as "the thinking person's hideaway". Spaces include a library (which Botton has dubbed 'Keats' Living Room'), a study (naturally called 'Freud's Study'), and an art studio, named after Constable. (You don't want to turn up with a low-brow book here!)

If you can't wait for these two boutique hideaways to be finished, there is a new, superbly named hotel called Batty Langley's, which is the third hotel from the gentlemen behind the equally quirky Hazlitt’s in Soho and The Rookery in Clerkenwell. The theme was inspired by the eccentric English garden designer and writer Batty Langley, who was famous for producing 'patterns' for Gothic structures, including summerhouses and garden seats, in the mid-18th century. He was particularly fond of cabinets de verdure, but all his garden designs were popular. His book New Principles of Gardening, in 1728, was a surprise bestseller. Even George Washington was a fan. There are likely to be many fans of this new London hotel, which is arguably one of the most charming retreats in the entire city. www.battylangleys.com

There is also a newbie in Notting Hill -- The Laslett Hotel (although I was a bit underwhelmed by it), and another cutie in Marylebone, the Zetter Townhouse in Marylebone, which is sister to the much-loved Zetter in Clerkenwell. The latter is probably the best bet for those who love textiles, antiques, books, and beautiful rooms, although its location -- right in the middle of Marylebone's magnificent shopping quarter -- is pretty irresistible too. Like Batty Langley's Hotel, The Zetter Marylebone is modelled on a character, only this one is fictitious gent called Uncle Seymour. The idea is that it's meant to represent the London townhouse of a well-read but slightly eccentric gentleman, whose books and antiques are all still as they were when he resided here. (It's a tradition: the sister Zetter in Clerkenwell was the townhouse of 'Great Aunt Wilhelmina'). There's an extraordinarily beautiful restaurant / bar called 'Seymour's Parlour', which is cosy and claret colored, and filled with things that look like they should be in the Soane Museum. The best suite is the Rooftop Apartment with its own terrace, outdoor bath and an (indoor) bathroom decorated with an enormous vintage map -- all mad but so fantastic too! www.thezettertownhouse.com/marylebone

As for horticultural havens, there are a few of those in this new book. My favorite new discoveries include the Isabella Gardner Plantation in Richmond (stunning azaleas in spring!), and Duck Island Cottage in St James's Park. (There is a fantastic story behind this cottage; too complicated to include here, but do look it up if you love gardens and history.)

EIGHTY, AND STILL ELEGANT IN WELLIES...

Speaking of London, and gardening, and all things charming and quirky and quintessentially British, it's fantastic to see that Jo Malone's new spokesperson is the eighty-year-old model and gardening cover girl Gitte Lee. (Christopher Lee's widow.) She's so beautiful. Look at her, with her three hats, her silk scarves (she's wearing two, just to be sure!), and her diamond brooch. What glamour! 

She's also the perfect person to spruce the company's new limited edition collection of fragrances, 'Herb Garden' , which are designed to be the best kind of casual scents. The descriptions alone make you want to try them -- 'Lemon thyme crushed in soil-covered hands; cool earth encasing ripening carrots and fennel; the aromatic artistry of herbs -- verdant, crisp, juicy and sweet...' Just the thing for weekend spritzes.

www.jomalone.com

MAIRA KALMAN'S ILLUSTRATIONS

It could be argued that Jo Malone's team has taken inspiration for the above photo shoot with Gitte Lee from Rhoda Birley's famous photo in the fantastic book Garden People: The Photographs of Valerie Finnis  (Thames and Hudson). 

Many gardeners know about this book and the colorful characters in it (Rhoda -- Lady Birley -- was shot in her garden at Charleston, in Sussex), but what's interesting is how it continues to inspire people -- and photo shoots -- years after it was published. 

I recently came across these sublime illustrations by New York illustrator Maira Kalman, who loves to paint gardens and gardeners, and perfectly captured Rhoda (above) in her now-legendary gardening outfit. 

Maira Kalman also painted an exquisite study of Sissinghurst's garden (above).

Maira is now so highly regarded that many people are commissioning her to do books and magazine covers. The New Yorker has been asking her to design their covers for years. (This week's issue of The New Yorker; a pink-hued, petalled study of a green-mustached man to celebrate the advent of spring, is by Maira.)

Here's one of her spring covers here --

For more information on Maira Kalman, there's a TED talk here -- The Illustrated Woman. Or there are lots of articles on various sites around the Net.

BEAUTIFUL BOOKS, NEW AND OLD

There are some gorgeous books being released this year, including an enormous tome of all of Karl Lagerfeld's theatrical catwalk shows for Chanel, published in May (LINK HERE), and a new Thames & Hudson title called Floral Patterns of India -- a must if you love design (and India!). 

However, I've been quietly buying a lot of vintage titles, as much for their charming covers and design as for the stories inside. 

The favorite so far has been Vita Sackville-West's English Country Houses, which she wrote while London was being bombed during the Blitz, and entire areas of southern England were being destroyed. It was her hymn to a way of life that was fast disappearing, not just because of the war but because of the changes that were taking place in society. 

Beverley Nichols' books are well worth reading, too -- although perhaps start with his biography first, to better understand him. Warning: Once you start reading his books, you'll find it difficult to stop!

GARDENS ILLUSTRATED -- AND VITA'S LOST ROSES

One of the best magazines in the world is Gardens Illustrated, the beautifully produced UK publication that's also sold elsewhere in the world. The photography is always superb, and the articles always feature under-the-radar gardens, interesting landscape designers and gardens, and beautiful flowers and plants. 

The latest issue, No 229, is a special edition that features an enthralling story written by Sissinghurst's head gardener, Troy Scott Smith, about Vita Sackville-West's lost roses. (Released Feb/March in UK; March elsewhere, including Australia.) 

Vita Sackville-West was famous for her roses. And when she noticed that many cultivars and species were dying out across England, she made it her mission to save and protect as many as she could. Unfortunately, of the 300 roses that she saved at Sissinghurst, only 100 were still alive in 2013, when head gardener Troy Scott Smith took over the estate. Cognizant of Vita's horticultural legacy, he took it upon himself to find "Vita's lost roses" and reinstate them into the garden. He used Vita's diaries and notebooks to identify where the roses had been in the garden, and what their names were, although head gardener Jack Vass' detailed garden plans were also helpful. Sadly, some of the roses seemed to be lost forever, but Troy tracked down more than 200 of Vita's original plants and brought them back to Vita's beds. 

Gardens Illustrated has a lovely story on the search for the lost roses, as well as four wonderful pages showing 44 of the best roses grown in Vita's garden. (And also specialist suppliers where you can source rare roses.) 

If only Vita were alive to see her rose beds restored to their original glory. She would no doubt be very pleased.

Link to article HERE.

News on the Duchess of Devonshire, Pierre Frey and Belmont House

SOTHEBY'S AUCTION OF THE PERSONAL TREASURES 

OF THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE

One of the most anticipated auctions this year is Sotheby's forthcoming auction of the personal items of one of this century's most remarkable women, Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire. It seems strange to think she's gone, after such a long and extraordinary life as one of the legendary Mitford sisters, and even stranger to think that her beloved things are now being auctioned. But she was so adored by the public, and if some of the contents of her final home The Old Vicarage at Edensor on the Chatsworth Estate can be sold to raise money for estate of Chatsworth, why not?

I always regret not meeting her before she passed away. A contact at Heywood Hill bookshop in Mayfair (which the Devonshires bought in recent years, in order to save it) kindly said he would make arrangements for me to visit (it was for a forthcoming book on gardens, one of the Duchess' passions), but in the end she wasn't well enough. A friend of mine in the US dated Elvis for the briefest of periods (she was very young at the time!) and I had some great stories about Elvis to tell her (another of her obsessions). But it was not to be. I probably would have been too shy to converse much anyway. She really was one of the most interesting, most inspirational businesswomen of our time.

The Financial Times (FT) has recently published a wonderful piece about the sale here. And Sotheby's has another, smaller, article about 'Debo' (as she was called) on its website here, as well as a glimpse at a few of the pieces going to auction here.   The sale includes exquisite jewels (some gifted to her by her husband and his parents), a rare copy of Brideshead Revisited personally inscribed by her friend Evelyn Waugh, plus fine and decorative art, and (something I'd love to view) the contents of Duchess of Devonshire’s library.

Here are a few pre-sale photos and pieces from the auction, from Sotheby's website:

The collection mixes high-end and low. There are many personal photos, including the one above of the Mitford family, priced at a reserve of only a few hundred pounds. But there are is the Duchess' jewellery, including a Chanel camellia (£400) and a pair of aquamarine-and-diamond clips (£2,000), and a book of John F Kennedy portraits (£1,500 -- £2,000) signed by the former US president with the sign-off 'L.O', a reference to the sisters’ habit of calling him 'Loved One'. (JFK was a close friend of the family.)

More details of the sale, including the pieces in the photos above, on Sotheby's website.

The auction is at Sotheby's London, March 2, 2016, with pre-sale viewing from February 27 -- March 1.

BEAUTIFUL BELMONT HOUSE: 

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PLACES TO STAY IN ENGLAND

One of the most popular places to stay in England isn't a hotel but a small, relatively unknown Landmark Trust property known simply as 'Belmont House'. It's an exquisite, pale pink, 18th-century, Grade II-listed villa in Dorset that was once owned by businesswoman Eleanor Coade and more recently the author, John Fowles, whose books include The French Lieutenant's Woman. 

The Landmark Trust has spent several years carefully restoring the house, including the Victorian observatory tower, with hatch and revolving roof, and the garden leading down to the beach, and has opened it up for short stays. However, it's proved so popular that the earliest available booking is now mid-2017. (NB: It's incredibly inexpensive; the villa sleeps 

8, and 4 nights is £640, or just £20 per person, per night.)

For those who would love to see it but can't wait until 2017, there is a rare Open Day on the weekend of Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February 2016 , from 10am to 4pm each day. No booking is required.

More details on Belmont can be found here. It looks beautiful.

MAISON PIERRE FREY EXHIBITION 

AT PARIS' MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS

The first major exhibition of French textile house Maison Pierre Frey since 1935 opens at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris this month. The show features many of the famous fabrics produced by Pierre Frey as well as the stages and techniques involved in creating and producing a textile, from the sketch to the finished product. It's set to be a fascinating show about fabrics, but it also covers wallpapers, and how they're conceived, created and produced.

 Knowing Pierre Frey, there is certain to be awealth of patterns, colours and information on display.

TISSUS INSPIRÉS: PIERRE FREY is  at the

Musée des Arts décoratifs from 21 January until 12 June 2016. 

More details can be found  here.