Paloma Contreras, Wightwick Manor, Fall Interior design books, and more on Weekend Meanderings.
WEEKEND MEANDERINGS
Good morning and a happy Saturday to you! It’s time for weekend meandering with Kim and Juliet, our weekly series where we share all of the things that piqued our interest and caught our eye over the past week.
Ok, enough about me, let’s meander.
Armchair Traveling~Wightwick Manor
Friends, I know that I say this about every English country house I have featured but this one may be my favorite! I love everything about it, the gardens, the history, and especially cozy the moody interiors.
Wightwick Manor has 17 acres of woodland and gardens and the outbuildings include parts of an earlier Jacobean manor house, stables (now a tea room); a gallery in the old malt house; gift shop; and a second-hand bookshop.
It has the distinction of being the youngest house accepted by the National Trust. And, although the house is known for it’s William Morris wallpapers, art and textiles William Morris never came to see the house, nor did his company do any of the design.
All the wallpapers, fabric wall coverings and soft furnishings were bought through the Morris & Co shop or catalog by the family in 1887 and 1893. .
“In 1937 Geoffrey Mander, a local paint manufacturer and Liberal MP, did something remarkable – he persuaded the National Trust to accept a house for the nation that was just 50 years old.
Geoffrey had inherited Wightwick in 1900, a house designed in an ‘Old English’ style by Midlands architect Edward Ould and built for his parents, Theodore and Flora Mander, between 1887–1893. “
“While they lived in the house, Theodore and Flora took inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s lecture on ‘the House Beautiful’; as a result, the interiors reflect Wilde’s commitment to the principles of the Aesthetic Movement and the ideals of ‘art for art’s sake’. Wilde’s influence can be seen in the collection of objects from Japan and China and the designs of William Morris and his British Arts and Crafts contemporaries.
Having given the house to the Trust, Geoffrey and his second wife Rosalie became its live-in curators, opening the house to the public and adding to its contents, in particular a remarkable collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, Marie Spartali Stillman, Elizabeth Siddal and many others. The collection now forms one of the largest public collections of work by female artists in Britain.”
Wightwick Manor is located roughly 3 hours from London just in case you want to add this house to your UK, London itinerary.
One to Follow~Paloma Contreras
Houston based Paloma Contreras is one of my all time favorite designers, and former bloggers.Paloma is a former Spanish teacher who in her spare time wrote the blog La Dolce Vita. Her ascetic resonated with her followers and helped her leave her teaching career behind to liver her design dream. Now she is an award winning designer, author of two books(one comes out this month), podcaster and a shop owner.
Paloma and her work have been featured in numerous publications and websites including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Vogue, Domino, Luxe, Traditional Home, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.
You can find Paloma on Instagram.
And if you haven’t listened to her podcast, The Style Files you will love it. Her interviews with our favorite designers including Bunny Williams, India Hicks and Mark D. Sikes, are amazing. It was fun to hear how some of my favorites got their start, and grew their businesses.
Last but not least, check out her books, the latest which comes out in a few weeks.
Fall Design Books
Speaking of design, have you seen all of the amazing design books just released or on pre-order for late Fall delivery? There are so many good ones I think I might have to add some to my birthday and Christmas list.
The New Classic Home: Modern Meets Traditional Style
Award-winningdesigner Paloma Contreras’s guide to pairing traditional style with modern design to create classic interiors with a touch of glamour and an infusion of color.
Extraordinary Collections
The art of collecting—from artist’s palettes still freckled with oil paint, to sculpted picture frames, to a menagerie of wooden toy animals—associating an accumulation of kindred objects is at the core of timeless French style.
From the preeminent classical architecture firm in the United States, the latest apartments, townhouses, and country houses, with interiors by leading designers
The Art of Home: A Designer Guide to Creating an Elevated Yet Approachable Home
The long-awaited design book from Shea McGee, beautifully showcasing all that is possible for every room of your home.
A stunning celebration of Ralph Lauren’s signature home collections—including the designer’s own homes—which have inspired the world of interior design for nearly half a century.
The legendary Schumacher design house presents an inspiring interiors survey exploring the versatile and transformative use of blue and white.
Read + Watch + Listen
Wear, wash, repeat. It’s like a wearable hug.
Planting Seeds of Happiness The Danish Way
On the Rothschilds’ Myth in Literature and Film
Why Introverts Don’t Consider Everyone Their Friends
Zara to Launch a Second Hand Platform
What to Eat in Paris on a Budget
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
It was a busy week on the blog. I shared books, bread, dresses and lots more.
Sourdough pumpkin bread is a nice change from traditional pumpkin quick bread. It is not too sweet, has a nice spice flavor and is a cross between quick bread and yeast bread.
The 12 best Fall dresses you can wear on repeat all season long.
And, last but not least Friday Favorites, including some fashion finds, this Fall outfit, comforting soups to add to your menu, a few books and lots of interesting links you may have missed.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
I hope that you enjoyed meandering with me today. Did you enjoy Paloma Contreras, Wightwick Manor, the Fall Interior design books, all the rest?
Have a great day! Don’t forget to pop over visit my friends Kim and Juliet you can find the links below.
Last weeks post included Athena Calderone, Jules Buono, Lessons in Chemistry and more on weekend meanderings.
If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
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Fall Outfits & Brooches
Elizabeth, I am so excited for fall too. I am getting the cozy throws out today and changing things up. I am so glad you’re having nice weather! The outfit with the COS sweater is so good. I am tempted to order that sweater- or do I take a chance and see if it’s still in the store in the UK when I get there? I love COS.
This home looks like a gem. If I could visit all the UK homes you shared, I’d have a fab tour! Maybe you should create one… We could all go.
I love book season and want the Ralph one and the Blue book
I may try and make your sourdough pumpkin bread today.. The boys are away on a hike until tomorrow, so I’ll be hanging with the cat on the couch.
Have a lovely weekend xo
Cos is getting so many great pieces Kim. I think that sweater would look fabulous on you. Make sure to take photos or a video when you are in the UK.
One of these days I am going to do a a country house tour. Luckily over the years we have stayed in some fabulous places in the UK and Scotland.
Are you experienced with sourdough? I never have much luck getting any of my yeast bread to rise like everyone else does. So any tips would be appreciated.
HAve a wonderful week Kim.
xo
Elizabeth … I love Paloma and her podcast. What did we do before podcasts? And I didn’t know about the RL book … ordered immediately. Of course! Delighted to know you’ve having cooler weather … this is such a wonderful time of year. Whitewick Manor is another stunner … love the exterior. And you had me at tea room! Hope you have a wonderful, first weekend of fall! xo
I’m loving all the design books, Elizabeth! And that pumpkin bread really does look so good!
Thank you April! I think you will love the bread.