We Will Miss You, Ciba...

We are sad to report the passing of a talented Victoria magazine contributing editor and a dear friend, Ciba Vaughan.
Read here to learn a bit more about this wonderful woman.

We will miss you, Ciba.
NL

Dear Friends,

When I was editing Victoria magazine, the historian/archivist in me always set aside a number of issues to be sent to my Iowa home for safe keeping. I did not really have any specific purpose at the time. My assistant Helen could be a bit erratic in the number of issues she sent: Sometimes there were six issues and sometimes 50!  I smile now coping with these packages, each one a surprise.

For some years no, all of those issues have been in storage. Recently, it came to the attention of the Schlesinger Library at Harvard that I was harboring this collection and they asked to have one issue of all the ones I have. And so, we have been delving into the storage unit (by we I mean my husband, son, and me) and assembling Victorias by year. The magazines will be archived by the library for

the women's studies program at the university.

Since we were doing this for Harvard, we searched for other libraries that would benefit from having access to the magazine. As of now, we are happily sending collections to Hofstra University, The Yaphank Historical Society (Long Island, NY), The Brumback Library (Van Wert, Ohio), and the University of Connecticut.

What to do with the rest of the issues? We are working with an organization for literacy for some of the many remaining issues--they distribute them to organizations that benefit from the donation of magazines.

Victoria brought pleasure to many of its readers. And now through the archiving at libraries, new generations will have access to it. It makes me particularly happy and I trust the readers who supported the magazine so faithfully are indeed proud as well. We send the magazine off with the chant that greeted Queen Victoria on the event of her diamond jubilee: You've done it well.

Happy Mother's Day!

NL

Bring the Romance and Rustic Charm of Corsica Home

Corsica is a storied Mediterranean Island. Owned by France today, it has a heritage that includes Italian, Greek, and many other European influences. And so it inspired Hooker Furniture to create a collection based not only on its romantic past, but its very contemporary casual lifestyle. Here, enjoy a pictorial tour of Corsica, which inspired Hooker Furniture’s delightful Corsica Collection for today’s casual lifestyle.

Romantic, Rustic Corsica is Melting Pot of Style, Culture

The waters of the Mediterranean have brought many different cultures to the island of Corsica, beginning with the Greeks, centuries ago. It is what makes this rugged island, primarily mountainous, so intriguing for visitors today. Corsica belongs to France, but its history, like the languages spoken and its food heritage, has a definite Italian imprint from the occupation by Genoa once upon a time.

Visit its markets, its farm inns, and even its most elegant restaurants and discover a unique cuisine and way of life in my latest blog for Hooker Furniture Corporation.

Romantic Ideas for Rose Lovers

Romantic roses & delicious sweets-the perfect combination!

Roses take center stage as Valentine’s Day approaches. But my favorite flower is never out of fashion, whether with the sophistication of a single blossom or in profusion in a bouquet. Roses are ever popular as a motif in fabrics and wallpapers. And as gardens are now dormant in most of our climes, you can still bring the luxury of a rose garden to your life. Tarry here for lovely ideas.

Your answer to cold temps: Cozy up at home!

Hang a wreath like this above a mirror for unexpected touch.
Photo credit: Mikkel Vang

All across the United States, temperatures have dipped to record lows for the most frigid January in a century. Never have the comforts of home been sweeter. The best answer to harsh weather conditions is to COZY UP at home. Here are some ideas in my latest blog for Hooker Furniture to do just that.

For a special winter sentiment, Lexington’s “Welcome to the Cabin” is fun and cheery.

Holiday Decorating from Nature — Ideas Abound!

Burlap, cranberries & walnuts adorn Christmas tree

How lovely to create trees, as well as home decorations, from natural materials. Why not organize a Santa’s workshop with your children or friends as your elves? Magazines abound with delightful ideas—many easy. And whatever your home’s decor, naturals will enhance its beauty at this special time of year. Read about some great ideas, inspired by our ancestors who relied on the woods around them for boughs and berries at this time of year, in my latest blog for Hooker Furniture.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays,
NL

Everything's Coming Up Pumpkins!

Pumpkin carving party ideas from Martha Stewart

“Tonight the Great Pumpkin will rise out of the pumpkin patch.  He flies through the air and brings toys to all the children of the world.”

~ Linus, It’s the Great Pumpkin,Charlie Brown

There is pumpkin mania in the land as Halloween and the festive fall holidays are upon us. And indeed, pumpkins are coming up everywhere. Looking for ways to decorate with pumpkins as the theme? You can find some inspiration in my latest blog for Hooker Furniture.

Labor Day Staycation Idea: Escape with a Good Book

Summer Read by Michael Steirnagle

Summer picnics, lazy walks and beach parties are great fun. But as the days grow shorter and we approach the last “official weekend” of summer, these fleeting days of leisure are not only a great time to dip into the pool, but a great time to dip into a really good book. Here are some suggestions to afford you a true “getaway” for the long Labor Day weekend, whether or not you are able to escape for one last weekend at the coast or resort. There is a lot to be said, after all,  for enjoying that novel or story of your choice in the comfort of your own home.

Creative use of open space=light & airy

Picture a lovely summer garden with roses entwined on a lattice, such as this one featured on annieathome.com. This creative use of open space is a design concept that never grows old. You will find it in such classics as Windsor chairs and in the contemporary designs shown in my latest blog for Hooker Furniture Corporation. While they are for all seasons, there is something especially appealing for the summer home. The look is tranquil and “cool” in every sense of the word.

Enjoy.
NL

Bravo to House Beautiful magazine for asking some of our best interior designers for their decorating secrets! There are 101 ideas for you to peruse, and most are just reminders of things we can do to make our homes and furniture look and function better. The very best of the ideas are guides that are cost-free.

Here are a few pointers that simply make good decorating sense!

Flowering Your Nest This Spring

Lilies at the Karen Blixen House in Denmark.

Can you believe it? We are only weeks away from the coming of spring! After a long winter, we can hardly wait to flower our nests. Before you pick flowers from your own garden, here is some inspiration for creating bouquets from the flower stand in your supermarket or enjoying the beauty of a faux arrangement of everlasting silk flowers. And if you want to dig a bit in the dirt, consider the now very popular hobby of gardening under glass.

Tour the trend-setting Rhapsody furniture collection

Most of us add a new piece or two to our homes each year, change the drapes, or add a coat of paint to the back bedroom. All good moves to freshen homes and spirits. I even get a big dividend from a new accessory such as a centerpiece or a table lamp.

That slow pace of changing furniture at home shifted for me recently, however, because I moved into a new space. Today, I am in the market for a totally new look.

Hooker Furniture’s Rhapsody collection is a good place to begin if you are in this frame of mind. Take a tour of the collection with me! 

Home IS Where The Heart Is

A wreath on the door, red roses on the table, kids making cards in the family room, a screen saver on the computer–all ways to bring hearts into your home for Valentine’s Day. Here are some ideas for heart-shaped treats, décor and centerpieces to really say love is in the air. 

And even after February 14, hearts in the home are never out of season or style.  The heart motif is one of the most universally loved.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and all the loves in your life.

Touches of Grandeur for Downton Abbey Fans

England’s earls and ladies inhabit a world we can only imagine as it is revealed to us on our television screens. But what we can relate to is how important home and tradition are to the inhabitants of Downton Abbey, the captivating PBS series. Perhaps it has inspired us to practice the art of gracious living, to appreciate the legacy of good enduring design and to add a touch of elegance to our own homes. Here are some ways to enjoy grace on a royal scale.

The Joy of Holiday Writing: Journals, Cards, Letters

I love this time of year. I look forward to relishing the time I take to write Christmas cards and letters to friends near and far. It's also a wonderful time to write down all of those customs and traditions that make your family your family. Keeping a journal is a priceless way to record your family memories.

I explore the joy of writing such notes, cards and journals in my latest blog for Hooker Furniture. I hope it inspires you in your own creative writing as you enjoy your time with family friends.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Nancy

Furniture with secret Santa storage...and some festive gift-wrapping ideas

Hi all,

It's time to get ready for the holidays! And in the spirit of the season I've posted a new blog for Hooker Furniture about furniture with secret Santa storage. There are some great ideas about how to keep your holiday gifts secret and safe from curious eyes along with some beautiful images that I hope will inspire your gift-wrapping this year.

Enjoy!
NL

Tasteful and Tasty: Pumpkin in Your Home

It's pumpkin season! And in the spirit of that season, enjoy my most recent blog for Hooker Furniture Corporation, Tasteful and Tasty: Pumpkin in Your Home. There are some great decorating ideas as well as a couple of terrific recipes to make the season flavorful.

Enjoy!
NL

The Case for Bookcases

Part II in my series for Hooker Furniture on How to Make Your Home Better Without Renovating: The Case for Bookcases.

(If you missed Part I, The Power of Paint, be sure to have a read!)

Happy "renovating."
NL

The Power of Paint!

Summer is almost here!

A change of seasons often inspires a change in our home decor. I'm working on a summer series for Hooker Furniture called How to Make Your Home Better Without Renovating. This series will focus on how to make some nice adjustments to style without having to commit to the large-scale investments involved in construction renovations.

My first installment The Power of Paint! 

Enjoy - and be sure to let me know what your favorite summer decor might include!
NL