About 10 months ago, I did a story on Carolyne Roehm’s wonderful Chisholm House in Charleston, South Carolina.
Not many photographs of the house have been published and the upstairs has remained largely unseen, except for a very few Instagram photos. Still, through Instagram, Carolyne’s blog, and YouTube videos, along with old real estate photos, I was able to piece together what Carolyne’s lovely southern home looked like – minus the upstairs.
Despite all the effort…those upstairs rooms remain tantalizingly hidden away. What DO they look like??? Her other bedrooms in New York and Aspen and Connecticut give a hint at what delights are waiting to be uncovered in Chisholm House. Rumor is Carolyne is working on two new books – the second one is supposed to be about her Charleston home and I promise you, I will be the first in line to buy it!
Around the same time that I was writing my blog story, Susanna Salk with her partner Stacey Bewkes, from her blog Quintessence, were in town, videotaping several Charleston homeowners, including Carolyne.
I was so excited to see their video that I kept checking Quintessence several times a day, waiting for it to come online. After a few weeks, Stacey gently told me to relax. It would be months before the video was ready.
Really.
What WAS I thinking?
Their videos are so well-done, so well-produced and so well-edited, why didn’t all the time that it would take to produce their perfect 10 minute videos occur to me ?
A few days ago, Stacey finally revealed the finished video on Quintessence, and it was truly worth waiting for. I’ll give you the link to their video at the end of this story and if you love Carolyne’s Chisholm House you will love the video.
If you aren’t familiar with the series of videos that Stacey Bewkes and Susanna Salk make – you are missing out on a huge treat. These partners visit the houses of talented designers and while Stacey videos, Susanna is the interviewer. What is so delightful is that you actually get to visit many of your favorite houses that you have seen in books and magazines. Some videos are shorter while others are over ten minutes long. Regardless, it’s always a bit bittersweet when the video ends, you want it to go on and on.
The best part of their newest video is that we see Carolyne’s upstairs – FINALLY!!!!
So…..are her bedrooms gorgeous? Need you ask? I was gasping, gasping!!!! at the beauty of it all. Carolyne is a visual master which is to be expected since she is also an accomplished artist.
The video starts with Carolyne welcoming Susanna into her large entry with the faux painted black and white floor.
Susanna first takes us through the Chinoiserie room. I think the room looks beautiful in the early evening, as seen here, with all the candelabras glowing.
Carolyne confesses that she buys her flowers at Trader Joes! Susanna is a bit indignant declaring that SHE is the Queen of Trader Joes, not Carolyne.
Don’t tell Susanna, but actually Carolyne with fellow Charlestonian Patricia Altschul also shop for flowers at Costco!!!!
It’s hard to focus on the chatter because the room is beyond magnificent.
It is filled with the prettiest antique chinoiserie pieces – so who really cares where the flowers come from? Actually, I’m going to make a mad dash for Houston’s Trader Joes and check out their flowers.
That desk!
Next they visit the Bird Room.
Sigh….
Carolyne tells the story behind the inspiration of the room.
She shares the story of how she acquired this painting which inspired the room’s decor.
I think this is my favorite room in the front part of the downstairs. I have another favorite in the back part of the downstairs.
The BEST story told in this room is how Carolyne makes dog blankets for her eight dogs – you can see here that the seat actually has a coordinating blanket on the sofa to protect it against the puppies. She just washes it and puts it back on the sofa, nice and clean! Great idea!!! Actually, she only takes two dogs down to Charleston. The others stay back on the farm in Connecticut.
This part of the video is nice because there aren’t that many photographs of the brown and white with red accents dining room/library/office. Notice the top of the bookcases with their symmetrically hung black and white medallions.
The view from the opposite direction. I love the lamps wired into the table. Carolyne uses this room for an office when she’s in town.
We finally get a close up of the chandelier and the medallions.
Can’t get much prettier.
Her small but perfectly darling powder room from Instagram.
Next they visit the family room which is my favorite room in the back of the house. This is actually one of my all-time favorite rooms, it just appeals to me in a way that is hard to describe. Is it the soft colors – the pinks and greens of the murals? Or is it the beautiful antique chandelier? It could be the damask fabric. Regardless, it all comes to together to make a beautiful TV room.
In this photo taken earlier than the one above, you can see the white console with a pair of white lamps and white coral is not here yet. The chairs around the table are different too – not sure where these went.
I love this gilt accented side table, which now sits next to the sofa.
And of course, Carolyne explains the purpose of the room – where she and her partner binge watch TV. But where to hide the big ugly TV? If I had panels like this, I wouldn’t want a big ugly TV ruining the peaceful decor either! Carolyne had her faux painter copy the panels and in the corner, her partner put the TV on a rotating device. They remove the faux painting and turn the TV on its side and binge away. When the show ends, the faux mural is put back on the TV and viola….the ugly black flatscreen is now gone.
Another screencap from the video.
Oh, I love this room!!!
At this point, Carolyne, Susanna and Stacey move the story upstairs.
THE SECOND FLOOR. READY?
ARE YOU SURE????
Isn’t this beautiful???
I know! Gorgeous!
OK
Just kidding!!
This is what the guest bedroom used to look like.
It looks like this today:
Yes.
A screenshot from the video shows this guest bedroom in pink. I just gasped when I saw this. It looks like a soft pink dogwood silk was used for the curtains and a pink print was used on the bed and chairs with a different print in a green and white stripe. Swedish demilune at the side and some type of Swedish desk are in the room along with the fireplace, and a beautiful mirror with two small French chairs. The ottoman is beautiful in gilt. The curtains are tied with bows.
Is there a prettier bedroom?
This room is visited for only a few seconds – so get ready to freeze frame and reverse!
This is the before of the master bedroom.
The master bedroom is all lavender – inspired by the chest.
Notice the inner lining of the bed drapes looks like a dark gray velvet. Just out of sight on the right is another piece of French antique.
Carolyne bought the chest at auction and designed the room around it.
It’s all lavender with green. Unreal!!!
Two chairs and a screen at the window.
Close up!
I tried and tried and tried to get this screencap of the console in one photo but it was too large. Even with these two photos, it’s missing a large section of the upper console.
This console must be extremely tall in real life!!!!
Carolyne collects tole flowers and I assume these are part of her collection.
This smaller bedroom is in blue and white stripes with another fabulous print fabric. So perfect for Charleston.
BEFORE: I think this is the next room, renovated – or very similar to it.
Ready???
WHEW!!!!
The guest room is dominated by a glorious antique French bed with walls decorated by Braquenié’s Tree of Life pattern.
Another pretty screencap from the Quintessence video.
This portrait of the man in a red jacket was initially intended for the library/dining room but ended up here instead – where it gives the room importance. I love this portrait!!
Photo from the Quintessence blog: The Tree of Life Pattern is placed on the bedspread – red taffeta is on the canopy.
Beautiful French clock and Carolyne in the mirror!!!
Close up. Notice the crown and the posts – the bed is especially pretty with these carved posts. Not that I would expect anything less from Carolyne Roehm.
Carolyne tends to buy the most beautiful antiques at auction houses and shops. Each piece is special and hand-picked by her alone. There is no one else working with her, it’s all her exquisite taste and unerring eye, alone.
In the alcove the Tree of Life pattern is seen again, framed by the second fabric and paired with Swedish chairs and, I will say a Swedish table too, but of that I’m not sure as I don’t have a degree from Sotheby’s!!
In the video, Carolyne attributes her love of the Pierre Frey Tree of Life fabric or "Le Grand Genois" HERE
The room she cites as her inspiration is Hubert Givenchy’s guest room at his country home - Le Jonchet.
There is NO good photograph of this guest room on the internet!! Someone needs to scan one in, since Givenchy’s iconic room is said to be an inspiration for so many designers and home owners – and with good reason.
The fabric was first made by Braqueni̩ in the 18th century Р1750 Рfor the European market.
I’m not sure where Givenchy got his inspiration from. Perhaps he just saw it at Braquenie and loved it. I’ve asked a few design historians but came up with nothing. Everyone cites THIS room as their inspiration, but who did Givenchy cite?
The fabulously talented Daniel Romualdez used the print in his own country house’s bedroom, which spread its popularity even more.
Then there was Mark Sikes who redid his guest suite using the print. Sikes credited Givenchy for his inspiration.
AND lookie here. Gela Nash-Taylor who is 1/2 the partnership of Juicy Couture hired Robert Kime to decorate her country manse in England. AND he used the famous Braquenie on the walls along with the original toile on the beds.
And so….when Carolyne Roehm says that Givenchy inspired her, you know she’s in good company.
…
While working on this story, I watched a lot of the Quintessence videos - they are just so enjoyable, it’s impossible to watch just one! And, it’s not a long investment of time, you can easily watch a handful in a hour. Viewing their videos is like you were invited to your favorite designer’s home for a tour followed by a meal or cuppa tea.
The videos are produced, shot, and edited by Stacey Bewkes. Bewkes is a former NYC art director, now living with her family in Connecticut. The photos of her house on Instagram show she has a love of Bennison and English Country Manor and I wish she would produce a video tour of her own house – it looks so cute.
I watched a lot of Stacey and Susanna’s videos and here are some that I really love and think you would enjoy too:
Look familiar? Gil Schafer’s house in the country. HERE
Even though it looks like an original Greek Revival – Gil’s house is new. Wonder who mows that lawn???
Miles Redd helped Gil decorate it and this was the first time the two ever worked together.
I love this painting – it was his grandmother’s.
Gil’s bedroom with the Bennison wallcovering. The mate to the previous portrait is over the sofa. Love it!!
The 45 acre estate has gorgeous grounds – well worth watching the video.
Next, I watched his collaborator Miles Redd’s video HERE.
It is a fun video because we have seen rooms in his apartment so many times, but how many times have you seen the living room from the landing? And notice his floors.
AND, then Susanna and Stacey go to Miles’ office which is a real laboratory. The walls are green velvet. Miles is such a sweetheart!
Next is a visit to New Orleans with Jane Scott Hodges HERE. Jane owns Leotine Linens so there is a lot of talk about monogramming – YES!
AND these fabulous green walls. Notice how the windows double as doors – just watch your head!
This is another popular room on the Internet. Did you ever realize this room is upstairs?????
She has the most gorgeous monograms everywhere. At one point, Jane shows how they sell square placemats and how the square perfectly frames the plate.
Next, is an oldie but goodie – Aerin Lauder’s house in the Hamptons HERE:
It’s a tour of her house which was her grandmother Estee’s.
The family room is all one fabric. It’s a nice tour of the house you’ve seen in all the magazines.
NOTE: In the videos, you also get a feel for what the person is really like. Some people are very natural and warm and others are more shy and introverted. You get an understanding of who the person is, which is a nice bonus – since we will probably never meet any of these people in person!
Plus, Susanna is a great interviewer. She is so friendly and open and engaging and she brings out the best in her hosts.
OK, back to the final few.
Another good video is at Bunny Williams’ farm while she sets the table, kind of. HERE.
Lots of filming in the conservatory and the attached barn. Lovely!!!
Those frogs! The table was set with dishes and glasses from Bunny’s new Ballard collection.
And then there are these two folks from California, the authors of, probably, the two most popular design books in the past few years. Mark Sikes is first, HERE.
Another tour of a house that we are familiar with – but in the video you feel like you are actually there…
Sitting in his beautiful back yard!
With a long visit in the enlarged bedroom.
How about a visit to Patina Farms??? HERE.
There’s a tour of the farm and visits with all the animals that Brooke and Steven have.
Even though this room has been updated and refurnished a bit, I still love the way it was here. And at the left – notice the bell tower stairs, which Susanna climbs up.
I’ll guess I’ll stop. There are so many wonderful videos from Susanna and Stacey, I could go on and on.
And now for a little bit of shopping…
Alright, alright. Just two more videos first: Laura Slatkin HERE and her brother in law Howard Slatkin HERE. Laura owns Nest Candles which makes my current favorite candle Bamboo.
To order click on photo or HERE.
Howard has sold his fabulous apartment – remember this book? It’s a great lesson in using historical decor as inspiration.
Now, here’s my personal wish list – I would love to see a video of Laura’s house in the Hamptons. It’s beyond fabulous and Howard did the decoration. Plus, does Howard have a new apartment in NYC? I would love to see a video of India Hicks new house in England. How about Nancy Meyers house decorated by Mark Sikes.
And you?
Work your way back through Susanna and Stacey’s list of videos and be sure to subscribe to Quintessence’s You Tube Network HERE.
To order Susanna Salk and Stacey Bewkes delightful new book, click on the photo. If you are a dog lover and a design lover – you will lover this! LOL
Click on photo to order.
And finally, a major thank you to Carolyne Roehm for always being so gracious and sharing her homes with her devotees. Remember what I said about getting a feel for what a person is really like? When we interviewed Carolyne for the Skirted Roundtable HERE, all three of us fell in love with her and were so surprised at how open and just how NICE she was!! Truly nice.
Carolyne has taken up watercoloring and she has painted a series of flowers. You can buy the prints and have them framed or not. But what I love is her collection of note cards. There are four different sets of prints:
To order go HERE
AND – for the perfect gift for that person who has everything – or just a splurge for youself:
Decorated ziploc bags for traveling in style. Only Carolyne would think of this! But, why not make the lowly ziploc bag prettier?? For traveling and your jewelry and makeup organizing.
Go HERE.
A huge thank you to Stacey and Susanna and Carolyne for making our world more beautiful today!
TO SEE THE “CAROLYNE” VIDEO ON QUINTESSENCE – GO HERE.