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While in Paris we visited a spectacular chateau known primarily as the home to Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte, the  Chateau de Malmaison . Josephine purchased the dilapidated country estate in 1799 while Napoleon was at war in Egypt and undertook a major renovation to bring the chateau up to date and to the style of the day. From 1800 until 1802 this was the new Versailles, the seat of French power, as Napoleon and his bride ruled from the newly renovated chateau. This was really Josephine's home and she lavished all her attention (and most of Napoleon's money) on the chateau and gardens. After their divorce (as she was unable to have children) she kept the house with a large pension and after her death in 1814 Napoleon returned to Malmaison for one last visit before being exiled in 1815. Talk about love stories! Malmaison is mostly known for its gardens, particularly roses which were JUST past their peak on my visit (June 6). The naturalistic gardens feature hundreds of vari...

I was in NYC a few weeks ago and went to a fascinating exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt design museum that is a must for any design lover: The Jazz Age . A time of great change with quickly changing technology, growing democracy around the world, equal rights for women, etc. the jazz age opened up a whole new world of design in all sectors. This exhibition by the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt is housed in their NY museum; the Andrew Carnegie mansion on the upper east side. One can't describe the Jazz age without its music and Josephine Baker , an American who took Paris by storm. She created the soundtrack for the jazz age.  Chanel was the couturier to the era.  The time period was known for jewels. See Gloria Swanson's diamond bracelets above. Cocktails were all the rage, even in perfume.  This little bar was for mixing your own home fragrance!  Smoking was huge for both sexes and the accoutrement got the jazz age treatment.  Cartier defined the jewelry of the era....