When Taxidermy is Tasteful

We aren't big fans of taxidermy. Dead, stuffed animals are not our thing. But sometimes, but rarely, we find that it works. This is our baby bear, killed accidentally by a car. He stands watch, looking out a window that can be seen as you approach the front door of the house. Which is amusing for guests and other visitors. Tasteful taxidermy happens by chance; it is never sought out. We happened to inherit this bear for the winter season last year, when the main lodge was closed, and he stayed with us all summer, and now into the fall. Many great camps, including Penwood, have deer feet that are used as coat or hat hangers. We can understand that. But not this: we had a brush with the worst kind of taxidermy when we were looking at newly constructed homes in the area to get ideas for our not-yet-started home. One of the homes was built by a local hunter and included more taxidermy than you see at a North Country taxidermy store -- including, very unfortunately, a fetal deer curled up on the staircase ledge. Yes: taxidermy of the unborn. Don't go there. We got the hell out of that place, and fast.

In Praise of the Picture Rail

Many people don't know about picture rails these days, and yet they are one of the most practical and useful ways to embellish a house. A standard feature of many homes built in the past, picture rails are all but absent from modern interiors, with the exception of museums and galleries. Most of us hang pictures by nailing a hook into a wall, hanging a picture and finally standing back in the hope that the result is attractive and doesn't have to be adjusted. With a picture rail, much of the guesswork is unnecessary. A standard length of picture hanging cord and a decorative hook will help you achieve a lovely result every time. Moreover, you can change your pictures around easily and without leaving unsightly holes in your walls (especially important if you have plaster walls). So if you're building or renovating your home, consider installing a picture rail. It's surprisingly inexpensive, and it will dress up a home of any style immeasurably. Rejuvenation stocks picture rail hooks and cord in several styles and colors.

A Fine Patina, 100 Years in the Making

These are the solid, old patinaed beams in the dining room of Penwood. The fresh blonde beams used in log construction today seem uninspired in comparison. Of course, these have been aging for a hundred years, and have stood the test of time well. The logs are solid and unblemished. The wood between the beams is covered with canvas. When Seymour Point, the original name of the house, was built, similarly impressive logs were set as the breakwater all around the property. A few remnants of them remain today, but the water has a way, over time, of eroding everything in its path. The water has nothing but time, and patience.

Adirondack Shopping: The Birch Store

There are more and more unpleasant shops in the Adirondacks: you know the kind - full of twiggy boxes made in China (check the bottom!) and all that ye olde country cabin stuff. The farther you get from the city, the less appealing the shopping becomes. But there are some gems among many duds, and The Birch Store in Keene Valley is one of them. In a charming little house, the store sells cool, modern, fun, edgy accessories for the home. The Birch Store is worth a stop if you get to Keene Valley, and it also has a home on the web for those virtual Adirondack travelers among us. The store is located at 1778 Main Street in Keene Valley.

Photo Credit: The Birch Store

Orchid Obsession

Gardening is hard enough, but orchids require something special. A lot of patience and knowledge and experience, to begin with. But the payoff is huge - look at this orchid! Orchids in the home are like small, delicate pieces of living sculpture. The variety of orchids is astounding and, for many reasons, the orchid brings out the obsessive side of people. In designing and decorating your home, the object is to create a place of beauty and repose, a refuge from the world and a place of peace for you and your friends and family. Orchids will help you along in this work. For more information about orchids, and to purchase orchids, visit Calyx & Corolla or Piping Rock Orchids. The experts can be found at the American Orchid Society.

John Derian Decoupage is Out of this World

John Derian started producing gorgeous decoupage pieces by hand several years ago. Taking antique prints, letters, postcards and other antique papers, he created designs for glass trays, paper weights, and other items. Now, his designs are very popular in New York and around the country. Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue as well as other fine retailers, carry his work. His little shop in downtown New York City has so many wonderful things that I am afraid to visit it too often. Next door, his impeccable sense of style is on display in a store featuring art, sculpture, and other items for the home. John Derian is amazing, as the tray shown here, from his Halloween collection, demonstrates. Visit him online or stop by his shops in New York.

Fresh Flowers Everywhere

Each week, we replenish our supply of fresh flowers. These are calla lillies in an arts and crafts vase sitting atop a dining table by Stickley. Flower arrangements in the home can be very simple and still be as stunning as an arrangement from a good florist that costs $200. Pick a simple but well designed vase and keep the arrangement simple and you can't lose. Never try to do too much, with too may colors. Change the flowers often and try them in different places throughout the home. Bring nature inside and see what a difference it makes, for you and your guests. Remember to do a fresh flower arrangement for your guest room before your guests arrive; nothing shows you care about their visit like a fresh flower arrangement. We love Calyx & Corolla for fresh cut flowers, plants, bonsai and holiday arrangements.

The Thanksgiving Table, Adirondack Style

We had always wanted to have Thanksgiving in the Adirondacks. Now that we have a year-round home, we celebrated the first Penwood Thanksgiving at this table. The table is by Stickley, as are the chairs. The chairs are Harvey Ellis by Stickley, each with inlay in the back of the chair. The snow was beginning to build up outside and the fire was burning inside. The table was set for the culinary show. We love round dining tables like this one because nobody is at the head - and it promotes great conversations.

Penwood Main Lodge in Winter

When it snows in Old Forge, it snows! Here is a view of the main lodge at Penwood in the middle of Winter 2005. The house is covered in snow and the woods are eerily quiet. There is a lone snowmobile in the distance, barely audible. The house is about 100 years old and has its own personality, its own stubborn soul. You can't recreate such character, at any price. It's a member of the family.