Cliff Walking in Newport

One of my favourite parts of visiting Newport, Rhode Island is the infamous Cliff Walk – a 3.5 mile hike along the private property of waterfront land owners.

As you navigate the multi-terrain path along the ocean, you get stunning views of both the legendary mansions and the ocean.

For architecture buffs, the cliff walk is a great way to take in the exteriors of the beautiful mansions that wealthy tycoons built for their summer retreats in the late 1800’s.

While you’re walking it feels more like a glamorous European getaway than an American escape.

A pause at Forty Steps, a beautiful stone staircase leading to a plateau above the water, makes for great photo-op’s. Originally made of wood, the steps were a meeting place for the mansion staff.

There are so many wonderful sights to take in, but one of the coolest is an authentic Chinese Tea House that one of the Vanderbilt’s had constructed as part of their Marble House property.

Tomorrow I will post about my favourite stop that you get a nice view of at Cliff Walk: Rough Point…

Having A Mod Moment

Cue "Incense and Peppermints" because I'm having a mod moment. When I saw these on the floor at UpCountry I felt a strong desire to sprawl out on them with some winged eyeliner and a cocktail:

sofa $2595  and chair $1797  from UpCountry's Cloud series

Is It Wrong to Buy A Baby Blanket For Myself?

 

Because I may just have to! This pink Greek key blanket by Jonathan Adler Junior is too much for me to handle. It is made of super soft Baby Alpaca wool and I'm wishing it was a few feet larger so it could work for adult-sized naps!

ELTE Spotlight’s The World According to Jessica Claire in their Latest Globe Ad

Thanks to Antonio at ELTE who included one of my blog posts in their latest full page ad in the Globe and Mail’s style section!

Antiquing in Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill is such a charming neighbourhood- even the 7 eleven looks like it’s been there for 100 years! Out of the few blocks of boutiques and galleries on Charles Street, a significant portion is devoted to antiques and home goods, including the quirky Black Ink, the mecca of porcelain and china at Elegant Findings Antiques, the girly goodness at Flat of the Hill, and the minimalist chic at good.

The stop that was most appealing to me that afternoon, however, was the Upstairs Downstairs Antiques shop, which was very well-priced considering the tony neighbourhood it’s located in. There were quite a few items I wanted to snap up, including some vintage prints and an antique cash-box, but these are the three items that tugged at my heart strings the most and still have me wondering why I didn’t take them home:

The solid mahogany black and gold cabinet, $265 would be adorable paired with a vintage chair to use as a little telephone nook. It could also be an awesome night stand in a teensy, yet luxe, guest room.

This set of weathered antique Cowper’s Works had the most beautiful marbled paper inside, and the shopkeeper was willing to part with them for $75. They sure would come in handy when styling a den or library!

Last but not least, this Victorian needlepoint chair, $195 had the most elegant frame and scale. Having the frame sprayed out and reupholstering the dated pink, green and blue knit upholstery, would turn this beauty into an awesome vanity chair - especially considering the front legs have casters for easy manoeuvrability.

Make sure you visit Upstairs Downstairs at 93 Charles Street yourself to see if anything tickles your fancy!