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Just in time for summer living  Vendome Press is releasing  Out East, the houses and gardens of the Hamptons , by noted author Jennifer Ash Rudick.  This beautiful book covers all the bases from modern beach shacks to more formal homes. If you don't find your dream Hampton's pad in this book you're not looking hard enough! The relaxed vibe found in all 30 of the houses with open windows and cool breezes have me longing for a little away time myself. The houses that appeal to me the most have a relaxed European casualness that embrace outdoor living without giving up any creature comforts. Of course my preference is for the more traditional houses in the book with an eclectic 'real' mix of furnishings that highlight the personality of the owner (not designer). And my favorite room in the entire book is this lovely screened porch found in a charming house designed by David Netto ;  I could park myself here for days with a stack of books and pitcher of iced tea. Imagin...

While I organize my photos from last week's trip to Paris and Brussels I thought I would share with you a hotel particulier by Ledoux that I stumbled upon with friends in le Marais. The last standing private house designed by Ledoux, the Hotel D'Hallwyll also was really the start of his prolific career. Ledoux started this extensive renovation to an older house (designed by Mansart) for the wife of the Comte d'Hallwyll who had inherited the house from her father. The house now holds 12 apartments and is private but we were lucky to walk by and gain access to the front courtyard. Located at 28 Rue St-Michel-le-Comte (on the bottom of the plan above) one enters into the entry courtyard. The extensive stables for 18 horses are located on the upper right hand corner with the famous garden on the upper left hand side. Most of the interiors have been lost over the centuries although the staircase is original and was recently renovated (read more about that HERE with fantastic...

While in Atlanta I attended the last open day of the extremely popular  Southeastern Showhouse which benefits the Atlanta History Center ( based at Swan House which I have blogged about HERE ). The showhouse benefits from being a private home in which the homeowners worked hand in hand with the selected designers in order to create a home for themselves unlike many showhouses which become disjointed rooms with no flow. This was possibly the best showhouse I've ever visited (and I've been to many!). The original house was built in 1962 by architect James Means  of reclaimed materials, making the house feel historic while offering the best of modern day conveniences. In similar fashion, architect Yong Pak with Pak Heydt & Associates worked with the homeowners in updating and expanding the Means house for 21st century living. Landscape architect Richard Anderson was brought on to make the best of the truly breathtaking site. But lets move inside, shall we? Above is the fir...