In Back Bay’s Copley Place, I always have to stop and soak in the square’s beautiful, unique architecture.
Everywhere you look – every single building is so…so colonial, so federalist, so Boston. (Although I admit this church reminds me of St. Mark’s in Venice.)
Above, the infamous Old South Church is an outstanding and colorful example of Northern Italian Gothic architecture.
This National Historic Landmark building is an unusually ornate design for a New England Congregational church. The building was completed in 1875, and is distinguished by its tall bell tower (campanile); brown, pink and grey stonework; walls of Roxbury puddingstone; decorative carvings; its polychromatic roof of red and black slate tiles; and its copper cupola or lantern.
Right across the street is Boston’s Public Library, the very FIRST free public library to allow people to borrow books and other materials and take them home to read and use in The United States, founded in 1848.
The magnificent building was designed to be “a palace for the people”, and my word, it is that and so much more.
Bates Hall is acknowledged by many to be one of the most important architectural rooms in the world. And how!
Featuring a majestic barrel arched ceiling enclosed by half domes on each end, English bookcases, busts of eminent authors and Bostonians, and richly carved limestone balconies. It is so named in honor of Joshua Bates, a London merchant born in Massachussets who gave the library in 1852 a whopping $50,000 solely for the purchase of books.
Don’t you want to throw a party right here, right now?
The Chavannes Gallery is painted by the renowned French artist Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, and the murals depict “The Muses of Inspiration, Hail the Spirit of Light” to represent the discipline of poetry, philosophy and science.
This is the prominent Abbey Room, where fundraisers and galas alike brush elbows overlooking Copley Place below.
The murals by American Artist Edwin Abbey (hence the name) are named “Quest of the Holy Grail”. There are 15 panels featuring 150 life sized figures.
The fabulous fireplace reminds me of the scale of my so called “walk in fireplaces” at Versailles. This is composed of French rouge antique marble, and the dark wainscoting and beamed ceiling (modeled after the ceiling in the library of Doge’s Palace, Venice) are magnificent.
The Reading Room rivals the famous New York Public Library, no? How would you like the duty of turning off the hundreds of bankers lamps each night?
Ok, moving on…from intellectual adventures to retail therapy…
Is it me, or is any outpost of Jonathan Adler the HAPPIEST place you can hope to pop into? Newbury Street never looked better.
I can’t quite get enough of the bright, colorful, inspiring, eye opening, POW of decor everytime I am magnetically pulled right into another one.
The necessary on all my seating groups needlepoint…the Palm Springs groovy vibe…the jolt of energy…
I’ll take one. Whole vignette, as shown. Wrap it up, add a bow, have it delivered. Make it two (for symmetry at my next party).
The white porcelain is of course – simply fabulous. Note the pink groisgrain bowties for festive holiday flair. LOVE.
And best of all, he does wrapping right (duh). No paper needed with these gorgeous gift boxes in every bright hue in the PMS swatchbook.
Now we have migrated to the superior South End…my darling friend Katy’s treasure filled neighborhood. She took me out and about on a crisp, cold day into the warmest, coziest, most delicious tiny shops I have ever seen. A mom and a pop stood behind the counter in every single one.
South End Fromaggio rivaled my favorite San Francisco foodie haunts. I wanted one of everything for each and every stocking on my list. Never in my life have I seen these artisanal small batch jams, chutneys, pickles, honeys…oh my.
Mast Brothers in Brooklyn, NY is my favorite bean to bar craft chocolatier. Their flavors divine, and nautical vintage inspired paper wrapping is too charming. Simply perfect favors for your next party.
Love the old fashioned counter. Doesn’t this remind you of your favorite neighborhood childhood sweet shop?
Down the street, this holiday advent window was divine. Love the French enamel number detail. How lovely as a prop for a seating chart of favor table…
The pine cone snowflake woodlands window design was so winter wonderful.
Aunt Sadie’s adorable window with flickering fireplace and vintage retro pile o’ Santas was enchanting.
Hudson was an instant, serious addiction. Thank goodness I had so many reasons for gifting…or I may have felt guilty splurging.
Love the striped rugby wallpaper wall. Love the belgian sackcloth settee. Love the magnolia garland. Love it all.
What a warm and wonderful winter retail respite.
Walking back to Katy’s gorgeous home on St. Charles, I was captivated by the countless flower box displays. These oversize ornaments, pine tips and pine cones are a sparkly, cheerful collection in the freshly falling snow.
Brownstone after brownstone, rowhouse after rowhouse…it was the perfect afternoon to stroll South End and soak in the decor.
Katy’s neighbor had just had a baby…hence the wreaths covered in baby toys and big red velvet bows. Clever, no?
Happy Holidays to South End – my new destination for all that’s darling and delicious.
Debi Lilly, aperfectevent.com
