White Wednesday #3: Books on White

The Color Garden (White), Text and Photography by Elvin McDonald

At Home With White; Atlanta Bartlett with words by Karena Callen; Photography by Polly Wreford.

White by Design by Bo Niles; Jacket Photograph by Keith Scott Morton.

White Rooms by Jordi Sarra Aran.

Here are some of my favorite books on all things white, from the garden to every interior room. What are your favorite books on the White theme?

Go to Faded Charm to participate in White Wednesday.

New Blog: Beadboard UpCountry

Photo by Maryanne Flaherty of Beadboard UpCountry, Brenham, Texas.

Great News! Maryanne Flaherty, owner of Beadboard UpCountry in Brenham, Texas, has entered the blogosphere. We are all in for a great ride, as Maryanne is a wonderful photographer with an eye for all things French and chic. Also into the delicious mix...she and her husband Peter have great stories to share about their lives, including their buying trips to Paris.

Go sign on as her follower at: http://beadboardupcountry.blogspot.com and hang on for the ride.

Fly Me to the Moon

Painting, The Prodigal Dress, is by Linda Hofheinz; Photo of the painting is by Annie.

It was our first trip together and we were flying to Paris. We had just eaten and had champagne before settling back in our seats to listen to music through the airline headsets. I was listening to the French music channel, enjoying an old Edith Piaf tune when suddenly her song was interrupted by a male voice, speaking English with a heavy French accent. What that voice said, I cannot repeat here; suffice it to say, that he wanted to do all sorts of things with me.

I was so startled, I took off the earphones and thrust them at Tall Husband, explaining, "Some Frenchman is talking trash to me---listen." Then I looked around the cabin for the culprit.

It was then that I noticed Tall Husband had the business end of the earphones to his mouth and was using it as a microphone...he was my French trash talker.

Who said engineers aren't fun?

Technical Note: Tall Husband says that the trick with the earphones no longer works, as the old earphones were air-tube coupled and the newer earphones are hardwired.

White Wednesday # 2

I'm enchanted with the colors one can see in white walls and white flowers as the light of the day changes.

Go to Faded Charm to participate in White Wednesday.

The Strange Life of an Old Leather Club Chair

This is Lynn, whom we met at Behind the Garden Gate last Saturday. This is not Isabella Rossellini.

And this is our 1930's leather club chair who was found at the wonderful Installations Antiques here in Houston.

How does this woman, who looks like Isabella Rossellini, figure into the life of an old vintage leather club chair? Here goes:

Last Saturday evening, we happened onto our friend Becki, owner of Installations Antiques. She was with the Isabellaesque stranger whom she introduced as Lynn, the previous owner of your old leather club chair. Now this is the very same chair whose ample arms hug you warmly as you read a book or sip a cup of hot brew...the same chair who beckons to anyone who happens by The Bunny Bungalow...the very chair who invites you to put your feet up and linger awhile and tell your best stories.

It seems that Lynn had inherited the old chair from her grandmother, Myrtle. Lynn had lived with the chair for a time but came to realize that she had little room for such a large piece. She gave the chair to Becki, whom she trusted to give it new life. Well, Becki had it reconditioned and covered in fine leather then placed on display the very day Tall Husband and I walked into her antique shop. It was love at first sight, even though we knew something would have to go, to make room (does anyone have room for an old creaky Boston rocker?)

Lynn tells us that the old chair was upholstered in a striped fabric and stuffed with horsehair when it resided at her grandmother's house. It had been Myrtle's favorite chair. When Lynn inherited the chair from Myrtle, she had it covered in a canvas fabric.

She was pleased to learn that her chair has a new life and is so treasured. Thank you Myrtle and Lynn for handing forward such a warm and welcoming piece of your past. Anyone who sits in that chair feels its fine history.

White Linen Night in Houston Heights

The old Heights Theater showed off its magical neon lights for White Linen Night.

White Linen Night in the Houston Heights is a big deal in this tiny town in the Big City. So, as dusk began to fall, along with the heat of the day, Tall Husband and I headed for the Houston Heights historic downtown for the celebration.

This is our third year to experience White Linen Night and we are here to attest: this year's attendance outdid all the others. The sidewalks, streets and stores were packed with a wonderful melange of happy people.

We dove into our favorite shop, Behind The Garden Gate, on 19th Street. With Smith & Hawken closing its doors nationwide, this is everyone's go to place for all things wonderful for the home and garden. Besides, they also do weddings and other special occasions.

Felix Hernandez, owner and designer at Behind the Garden Gate, keeps the place filled with his wonderful flowers and antiques for the house or garden. The Bungalow is filled with his lavender, in antique bags and in small bouquets.

He has a great collection of unique, primitive wood and metal accessories, like the antique industrial scale, bucket and basket, above.

I've got my eye on that old mirror and some unscented candles.

Behind the Garden Gate
355 W. 19th Street
Houston, TX 77008
713-864-1679

felix.flowers@yahoo.com
Website to come later.

White Linen Night at 2125 Yale

We loved the art at 2125 Yale which was provided and installed by Koelsch Gallery in the Houston Heights.


The urban chic at 2125 Yale with some rustic touches. Note: they kept and restored the original long-leaf pine floors from Kaplan's Ben Hur, the old establishment that once stood on the site. Also, see one of the residences, lower right in the above collage.

Ultra-modern indoor common areas at 2125 Yale.

Exterior of 2125 Yale, a new, luxury mid-rise in the Height that is now leasing (if you want live here, hurry, as they told Tall Husband they are already at 70 percent occupancy.)

Guests at the White Linen Night Pre Party, 2125 Yale.

And the most gorgeous pair of shoes on the floor at 2125 Yale...just my size but she refused to take them off.

Yesterday evening, Tall Husband and I, dressed in white linen, attended the exclusive Pre Party at 2125 Yale, a new luxury mid-rise in the Houston Heights. The event was catered by Shade Restaurant's Claire Smith, named Restaurateur of the Year by My Table Magazine in 2005. Shade is two blocks from The Bunny Bungalow. Also, models from Contents, a Heights fashion shop, showed off Contents fashions.

Next, we were off to the historic 19th Street for more White Linen Night festivities. You can read about that tomorrow.

Click on photos to enlarge.