Staircase Envy


I definitely have a little bit of staircase envy going on. I always assumed that my future would be filled with staircases considering I spent my youth on my grandmother’s magnificent staircase. My grandmother’s staircase was the centerpiece of her house. Wide steps, mahogany with a green runner, deep landing with massive stained-glass overhead, overlooking the foyer with a banister that was perfect for decorating and sliding down. The staircase was so remarkable that my mother even got married on it. I think her sisters did as well. Little did I know that this staircase was basically my last. We moved from Missouri to California when I was finishing the six grade and ever since I have really never had a staircase. Well, I mean, I’ve had a staircase but not a staircase! Isn’t it weird and don’t you feel bad for me?

 
 


If I were to ever build a house, my designs would start with the staircase. If I were to ever shop for a château, my choices would revolve around a staircase. A girl can dream can’t she! Second to a grand staircase, my favorite staircase is a freestanding winding staircase. I have two favorites. The first one is slightly hidden at the Louvre behind Napoleon’s dining room in the butler’s hallway. The second is at my favorite perfume shop in the gardens of the Palais Royale, Serge Lutens. Take a look…

 
 



Okay, now let’s take a look at some other remarkable staircases.…

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Amazing, right? I don’t even know which one I would choose! Another favorite staircase of mine is designer Timothy Corrigan’s at his Château du Grand-Lucé. I love it because he put sisal/seagrass as the runner! A little bit of California in France! Très chic. Take a look…
 

As always, I have put together a Staircase/Stairs Pinterest board. Click HERE to see. Inspiration galore!

Okay, now that we have the foyer and staircase all figured out… It’s time to get into the heart of the house. Where should we start? Let’s go big and start with the living room, shall we? Stay tuned…

A toute!

*Something you don’t know about me? When Gracie was in elementary school and before I had my own antique shop, I took interior design classes at Santa Barbara City College. I took a drafting class, lighting design class, space planning class and the very best class… The History of Furniture. The History of Furniture class was the greatest year of my life. My professor started the class with the first known piece of furniture up until the 1970s. She taught her class as if she was telling a story and I was hooked. I was definitely that annoying teacher’s pet who was genuinely interested in every word she said. “Please Prof., tell me more about that French Empire daybed.”

I don’t care if you think that I’m a big fat snob, I’m going to tell you the truth. The truth is that you can go to all of the interior designing classes that you want but you will never be a good interior designer unless you have good taste. At that, my friends, you cannot learn in school. If I want to be a total brat I would say that one is born with good taste or shall I say born with a good eye but I also think that with exposure good taste is possible. Exposure to museums, historical sites, foreign cultures, brilliant architecture, talented designers and individual homes is key. The best education you can give yourself is to travel and keep your eyes open. You cannot always trust shelter magazines to help you with your interior design education because they are not always spot on. I’m still completely confused as to which idiot at Architectural Digest gave the go-ahead for this one house that was a complete joke. Nautical themed with patchwork quilts with lots of yellow and pink and royal blue… And red. The thought of that house still upsets me. You can educate yourself up to a certain point and then you either have it or you don’t. Money doesn’t buy good taste either.

Do you want my advice? I think I heard a “yes.” Get yourself to the Marché aux Puces, the flea market in Paris. It is better than anything a school could offer.

Do you want some more advice? Here is a teeny tiny preliminary list of my favorite designers for you to check out to give you some inspiration…

Timothy Corrigan             Miles Redd          Michael S. Smith         Chahan Minassian            Craig Wright

Mary McDonnell               Rose Tarlow       Jean-Louis Denoit       Richard Shapiro          Jessica Vedel     

Kelly Wearstler                  Kathryn Ireland                 Jeffrey Allen Marks          Gilles et Boissier

Alex Papchristridis            Dan Marty           Martin Lawrence Bullard    Studio Ko          Jacques Garcia

Bunny Williams                 Charlotte Moss                 Suzanne Rheinstein          Roman and Williams

Joseph Dirand                    Christian Liagre                 John Saladino                    Axel Vervoordt

Ready for some more advice? There are some excellent interior design books that you should invest in as part of your education. Even though basically everything I own is tucked away in storage in Los Angeles, if I had to choose one thing as my “must have” it would be all of my decorating books. For you, because I love all of you :-), I have put together a cohesive compilation of must have interior design books through my Have Some Decorum Bookstore. Click HERE. Start with The Finest Houses of Paris as your first choice. My mother and I call it the Bible.

My other guilty pleasure is to watch Suzanne Salk’s Quintessence (phenomenal blog) video series. I binge watch it. Click HERE to start your decorating video education.

Now that I have opened this interior decorating can of worms… Forgive me if I get a bit obsessive. Interior design feeds my soul. Even though I have ALS and should be “preparing for my demise” I just don’t feel that way. You are going to laugh but the other day I actually felt like I wanted to “go back to work.” I don’t have time for ALS. Next week I will tell you what I really want to do… And yes, it involves decorating… and Paris.

51 comments:

  1. Do you like Nicky Haslam or Rose Uniacke?

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    1. Love love love Nikki Haslam and I love love love Rose Uniacke.

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  2. Ellie you are such an inspiration
    I love stairs too something so regal about them!
    I live in Miami the capital of tacky! I couldn't agree with you more in spite of what many think you can't buy taste , you can rent a good decorator but it'll be their taste. Taste is something innate, can't be taught
    Lourdes

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  3. When you said, I want to go back to work...hugely inspiring that was!! Loved the staircases . Fav was the stone with the iron banister with the clock to the top right.

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  4. I didn't renew my AD subscription last year. I just didn't love it like I used to. I always like to inspect magazine photos to see how so often furniture is squeezed together impossibly close to fit into a frame. my favorite was a house beautiful cover last year where they edited a kitchen for the cover that would have been an 8 inch space between the range and island. I so agree with you on having an eye or not. I have an eye for proportion and scale and think it gets ruined if I try to be too precise. But I have trouble stepping back and managing the big picture.
    Your grandmother's staircase is so beautiful. And I love that your mother was married there! I'm in serious staircase envy myself. My friend is building a big white colonial (my dream house, although I'm liking monochromatic Tudors lately) and it has a three story foyer with a swirling staircase and she's painting the walls fuchsia. And will have pretty much all her blue and white in there. I know it sounds like it could go bad, but I know it won't. She's so talented. And so nice, so I can't hate her for building my dream house and not giving it to me. But I drive by it all the time and my eyes flare a little with envy.
    You really don't have time for ALS and I'm over it so get better. I say plan the chateau, the staircase, the garden. I'm sure it's so annoying when people say this but miracles do happen. I've experienced two first hand. Three if you count my hair.
    Guess what I made last night? I'd imagine they were a part of your childhood as they were mine-deviled eggs! A deviled egg with a dirty martini may be the best food/spirit pairing I have ever experienced. Perfection.

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    1. Stephen, this is a formal invitation for you to be my best friend. Definitely need to see pictures of your friends house. The fuchsia will look perfect with the blue and white. You won't believe this but guess what Gracie made last night? Deviled eggs! Swear to God! Need to see more pictures of your house. XOXO

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    2. Oh I accept. Let's get matching Cartier cuffs. I can't believe Gracie made deviled eggs last night!!! I hope they turned out well. Mine were fantastic. Also hope she's feeling better!

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    3. Dirty martini and a deviled egg. Dirty martini and a deviled egg. I know that a) there really is a whole lot of other things to respond to here (most certainly Ellie's idea of going back to work) and b) it is only 11:50am as I type (granted it is Sunday so maybe I am in brunch mode?) but I cannot get that pairing out of my head. Like a skipping record. I haven't had deviled eggs in yeeeears. That needs to be changed. Pronto. Ok, this evening but still, merci, Stephen.

      Beautiful Ellie, I think that design and good taste is like fashion and style. You have it or you don't. As for your advice to travel and keep your eyes open? I think that is the best advice FOR LIFE (excuse the caps borrowing, Elizabeth!) not just for aesthetics.

      And one last thing? If you were only going to have one staircase in your life, lord knows you had a great one. Your Mother was so pretty on her wedding day too. We had a really beautiful one when I was growing up in our Victorian house. If I can find a photo of it I will email it to you. But I do love a staircase and have been known to swan down one just a tiny bit after the guests have arrived. We all need an Auntie Mame Moment from time to time. ;)

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    4. Now all I want are deviled eggs and a dry martini. Stephen we need a recipe for both. Heather definitely send me a photo of your Victorian house!
      XOXO XO

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    5. Devilled eggs are what I take as appetizers almost everywhere I go! Honest. I even own a special egg plate...never tried them with a martini though and I adore Ken Maytag's Junipero gin....it is THE BEST.
      I do not have the gift for decor but fortunately for me I am married to a very talented architect. I believe in miracles AND modern science.

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    6. Sent! Along with an unnecessarily long email because that, m'dear, is how I roll.

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    7. I will get the recipe posted this week. It's one of the few things I make that actually has a recipe. I actually prefer a vodka martini. Although I did make a blood orange martini with Bombay gin this weekend that was sublime!

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  5. Bless YOU!I totally agree with YOU about the decorating thing!Either your born with it or NOT!The travel and INTEREST do HELP.........You of course were BLESSED as you were EXPOSED to some of the BEST.
    I have met TWO of your DESIGNERS..........AXEL at his CASTLE in BELGIUM....talk about a beauty of a staircase........in the circle part going up from the kitchen I think there was a DOVE sitting in an alcove same size as the DOVE!I think I have that SNAP should I send to YOU!Axel, couldn't be MORE gracious..........German Tellie was there filming as I got a private tour with his ASSISTANT because I contacted a COUNT a REAL COUNT about his GARDEN SHOW and told him he was my second choice as I really wanted to go see AXEL'S castle but I couldn't get a flight for that week when it was open to the public.......MY COUNT who is a COUNT THREE TIMES OVER says to me on the phone,"I know AXEL I can get you into see his CASTLE!"And he DID!!!!That was a GORGEOUS trip............I took MY BEST friend for her BIRTHDAY a BIG ONE and she then DUMPED me two years later..............
    Then there was TIMOTHY..........YOU would LOVE what he wrote in my BOOK.I stood in line after the FALL ANTIQUE SHOW to meet him and buy his book!He has a THEATRE at his CHATEAU..........and HE WANTS ME TO COME PUT ON THE FIRST PRODUCTION!!!!!!!!!!ARE you GAME ELEANOR............YOU and I could have SO MUCH fun with THAT!!!!!!!!Shall I contact him and say WE are coming...............MAY JUNE or JULY..............YOU PICK!XOXOXO

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    1. Wait, what? I am speechless! And I want in!! Hello? Former Yale School of Drama trained actress here? ;)

      You meet the most amazing people and of course they love you because how could they not?

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    2. I agree with you Heather! Everyone falls in love with Elizabeth. She is truly magical. You definitely need to be involved in that production Mrs. Yale School of Drama! Hello!

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    3. OF COURSE, YOU DO!!!!!!Where are my MANNERS!!!!!I will fly into PARIS swoop up ELEANOR then DRIVE down to get MS.YALE SCHOOL of DRAMA and head OUT!ANYONE else game for OUR PRODUCTION.............???!!!!
      I do not remember how that came about but he did talk about his theater in his TALK and I probably said, I will come put a PRODUCTION ON FOR YOU as I was standing there saying HELLO!!!That year he spent ONE WEEK only at the CHATEAU...........ONE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. Ellie,
    I don't know what is more entertaining, reading your blog, which is so wonderful (entertaining and enlightening), or the comments of your fans (followers).
    ALWAYS brightens my day. Many many thanks. Alex (to Paris)

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  7. This was a great post with so much good information. Love the old pictures at your grandma's. So cool. And all the wonderful staircases. You were learning about décor at a young age without even being aware of it.
    Yes, Ellie, you hit the nail on the head; you must have good taste. And a sense of proportion is vital. And it doesn't equate to how much money is involved. Everything I have is from the back markdown room, estate sales, garage sales, and other cheapy sources. And my house looks great. Or at least I think it does!
    Am I the only person who goes into other people's houses and then, after seeing and admiring everything, starts mentally rearranging the furniture and the pictures? (They're usually too high.)
    Sheila

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    1. "DITTO" Tomorrow I show a bit of the inside of MY HOME on the BLOG............
      YOUR right about the pictures!!!
      I do feel my home is more ENGLISH then ITALIAN.............
      I once traveled around England with a BOYFRIEND and MY MOTHERS fur coat in an old RENALUT.The one where the roof folded back.............we managed to get into some of these homes and OH BOY WAS I IN HEAVEN!WE also got stuck in the MUD!AND I was GRACIE's AGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD GRIEF................must find those photos!XX

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  8. By the way, Ellie, could you do a post on the Marche aux Puces and which areas are the best and worst? All the ins-and-outs please!
    And maybe another one on some of the other neighborhood fleas.
    Thanks.
    Sheila

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    1. Hi Sheila! I will definitely do a post on the Puces but I have to wait until it warms up here before I head over to the fleamarket. Too cold to be outside looking at furniture right now. I went to another fleamarket at the 14th but I had a panic attack there so I'm never going back even though they had a painting I still think about. It was not so much furniture as it was bric-a-brac though. I love to go to another fleamarket near Avignon. It is my favorite. Field trip in the spring. XOXO

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    2. Villeneuve on Saturdays!! Which is about a fifteen minute drive from my house. Just saying. I believe that Stephen has already volunteered to be the field trip driver, correct? Voila. So it is a done deal.

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  9. First of all, who could chose a favorite among those staircases. I never saw Bonapartes rooms at the Lourve.I guess I'll just have to return to Paris. An eye? Taste? Yes it happnes in all the ceative professions. A friend who is an excelent draftsman, superb I might add, paints the worst pictures known to mankind. Well maybe I exaggerate, but still they are paintings that are perfectly executed and the most boring things to look at. So you're not a snob you're just stating the obvious. I'd hire you in a minute to decorate anything! So you're hired.

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    1. ME neither SANDRA............BONAPARTES ROOMS...............I am FASCINATED by that ELLIE.Which floor???For my next trip...........XO

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  10. Oh and by the way. You have connected two of your admiresers. La Contessa and I have become buddies beccause of you. We're going to connect either and or both up in Northern California and or at The Ivy in L.A. I am officially The Empress to her La Contessa. I've really, really always wanted to be an Empress. But maybe I should adjust my sights a little lower and become a Duchess. What say you?

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    1. Empress Sandra has a nice ring to it. So glad you have connected with La Contessa. She is a rare gift. I used to work at the Ivy in Los Angeles. I was the hostess when I was 18 years old! I could not love that place more. Have the crabcakes and the Apple Tarte Tartin!

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    2. EMPRESS!!!!!!!!Her MOTHER worked for the RUSSIAN CZAR............Eleanor, she has a BLOG and she paints ROSES!AND there is SO MUCH more..........go take a PEEK!!!!XOXO

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    3. ELLIE........Penelope introduced me to THEM too!I found HER on INSTAGRAM which I do believe is the daughter.......I practice my ITALIAN with her on IN!She has the MOST ADORABLE DOGS........BORGIA and ? oh senior moment happening........they are HYSTERICAL.Always in the their GORGEOUS yard with plastic baby pool and BALLS!Come to find out the EMPRESS walks by their home everyday!I asked her if she would meet be there........and NOW YOU ARE TELLING US YOU WORKED THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!These CONNECTIONS are PRICELESS.........XO

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  11. Agree with you that taste is inherent. It can be improved upon with education (of both the formal and non formal variety), but if you don't have it to start with, you're never going to get it no matter how many years of design school you attend/ how much money you spend.
    I am almost ready to cancel AD. It puts out so many ghastly homes in issue after issue, then they do one good one, so I relent and keep going.. only to be disappointed again.
    But I have to disagree with your list of decorators!! You missed all the great English decorators and designers. They have a perfect way of making things look just a little 'undone' and as if it's always been like that.

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    1. Dear Heidi, you have to read more carefully… My list was just a teeny tiny preliminary list of decorators. :-) I love love love the great English decorators and designers. I might even go as far to say as English design might be my favorite for exactly what you said… "They have a perfect way of making things look just a little "undone" and as if it's been always like that. That is exactly what I love. A curated look with objects of love. I agree with you about AD. I need to be dazzled and lately I have not been. XOXO

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  12. OMG. Today on my blog I have the Finest Houses of Paris!!! True story! Luf it. Gave it to Mr FF in 2004 and I type this staring at my 1750 Louis XV buffet with a marble top that you would LUFF!!!!! xx

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    1. I have poured over that book so many times. My mother copied the black lacquer dining room with bookshelves for her Santa Barbara house. Gorgeous. I also love Givenchy's maison in the book. I already love your buffet. Going to go read your blog… Follow me everyone.

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  13. Ellie... love every one of these gorgeous staircases. Your grandmother's was magnificent! I look forward to your entertaining posts. I agree with Brown Eyed Girl - love reading all the comments. Hope you are doing well.

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  14. A good eye and great taste!! That's a sure winner, but you also have to have a super sense of scale. And a touch of fearlessness. Love your designer top choices--except for one, about whom I will remain silent. xoxo Mary

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  15. Including Miles Redd on the list of faves is an insult to the other decorators. Other than that, I couldn't agree with you more on EVERYTHING else. As a grown-up (hahaha) I went back to school, too. Took drafting, sketching, fibers & textiles, all that, and...the most amazing and life-changing class...FURNITURE HISTORY! It's really socio-political history reflected through style, who knew? Years later, my interior design business is still thriving - there are still people who care about good design.

    I don't bother to read most magazines these days. They USED to be aspirational. Now the finished rooms look like the "befores". There's still gorgeous design out there, it just takes a little extra effort to find it.

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  16. Love those staircases! And how could your mother NOT get married on that staircase? I got married at home, too, almost 40 years ago, and as I stood at the top of a pretty-but-mundane staircase, I said to my father, "I can't do this, I can't do this!" He, very wisely, just said "Shut up and start walking". (Do all brides get the jitters at the beginning of the wedding aisle? Just wondering.)

    Anyway, about your contention about "good taste". I think I have pretty good taste and others agree, but maybe its because they like the same things I do? But to me, the thing worse than having "bad taste" is having "no taste". By that I mean, people unable to "take a chance" on their decorating, keeping a totally bland, decoratorish palate. You know,, kind of like a room at the Ritz Carlton, but in a private home. Beautiful...but empty. I actually get a bit "spooked" when I'm in a house with "no taste". Give me something gauche anytime and I'll be glad I don't live there, but I'm appreciative of the chance to get to know the person living in that space. But that's just me and the feelings of design.

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  17. Your grandmother's staircase bannister must have completely irresistible for sliding down. Did she have rules about it? Totally agree with you about being born with taste or a good eye. Education can develop and sharpen it, but the innate essence needs to be in a person from the start. Love your list - at the top of mine are Rose Tarlow, Christian Liagre, Axel Vervoordt and John Saladino.
    I was lucky to have a lengthy chat with Rose Tarlow at a design center seminar - bad weather kept all but a few people away, and so after her presentation we sat and talked for quite awhile. She is as lovely as her designs!

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  18. Lovely staircase at Le Grand Lucé! And I will look for the Finest Houses of Paris!

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  19. YES... get back to work!!!!

    And merci, merci, merci for all your posts, words of wisdom and comical relief bits. You have been a huge point of inspiration and motivation for me.

    Xoxx

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  20. Sounds like I need to go to the brocantes and antique markets in Paris....It should be warmer by May. Those staircases are wonderful for making an entrance in a gown...it is not surprising that your mom and her sisters got married on that grand staircase.
    I saw Faux Fucshia had that book on her blog and when I read that you had it too I was thinking of how close we all are in this bloggy world!
    Btw I use curry powder when I make my devilled eggs....

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  21. After this person Nikki Haslam was mentioned, I looked him up. Everyone should.
    The whole story of him is literally Un-be-liev-able!
    Sheila

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  22. He is FANTASTIC!!!!

    I love all those decorators! Mario Buatta? Fantastic too! His new book (kinda new) has 50 years worth of his work! Totally timeless!

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  23. I love staircases too! When we built our little house on a very small budget I insisted on having a wooden banister that felt good under my hand- not too wide or narrow - and it had to be continuous through the three levels like french staircases. I love it!

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    1. Did your grandparents live in the CWE in St. Louis. Love those homes.

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  24. I look forward to your posts every day and am never disappointed! It is hard to decide which is better - the post itself or the comments that follow! I too love staircases and have a board full of them on my pinterest where I just added several of these. I heard Timothy Corrigan speak about a year ago and was smitten and your list of designers is perfect. Diana was right - the eye must travel. Hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for writing!

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  25. You are wonderful! I felt the same way back in the day when I took Int 115 - History of Architecture and furniture. I do not think I have exceptionally good taste, but I do know good stuff when I see it. You are right, one is born with most of it and then the rest is developed if you are lucky to travel and be exposed. I agree with your designer list and found some I need to check out. I thoroughly enjoy your blog, thanks for sharing you. Karen

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  26. Im usually bitching when i go up and down my staircase because of my knee. well no more miss ellie, I'm looking at it in a new light..I removed the carpet and just had them stained...I must say they look pretty fab...btw im ready for a martini & deviled eggs too..xo

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  27. Have you seen the staircase at the St Pancras Hotel in London? It is amazing. Thanks for all of your great advice, you are priceless!
    Brenda

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  28. Somehow missed this Ellie! Thanks so much for the lovely shout out! Timothy's staircase is indeed divine - Susanna and I loved how the shallow steps made running up and down seem effortless! - Stacey

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  29. Love the recipe and the 'secrets' to perfect hummus! Love the sister stuff even more! Is your sister older than you?

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