Vervoordt, Costanza, and Tater

As promised long, long, too long ago, today I post about Axel Vervoordt, one of my most favorite designers.  I started following him years ago, have all his books, and have read every article bearing his name.  The only trouble is I am not alone.  So many follow his work - good for him, bad for today's posting.  I will share some of my favorite Vervoordt images, and if you have seen them all before, skim.

His castle and orangerie where his antiques are displayed and may be purchased.

Another view of castle.

View of entrance to grounds.

Sorry to be so repetitious, but the buildings and grounds are so beautiful.  And we have very few moats in the US.

This image below has been everywhere on Pinterest, blogs, magazines, but is so simple and lovely that I had to include it.  (Speaking of simple, Nancy Braithwaite's new book, Simplicity, is out now and is a stunner.  Look for it and buy it if you like simplicity.)  I fell in love with this room.

Every time I see it another object must be removed from one of my rooms.

Perfection.

Orangerie perfection.

Perfection inside the orangerie.

Inside to the castle's kitchen.

And to a Molteni stove and beautiful copper cookware.

Dining room.

El fresco dining at the castle.

Now, leaving the castle and onto Antwerp and Vervoordt's Kanaal, a former distillery bought and redesigned for living and viewing.

He gives the old distillery a museum quality.

With spaces for living.

Axel with his son, Boris who is now taking over some of the design work.

Showroom.

As the Vervoordt style becomes more and more Wabi Sabi...

I love its purity...

Pure and simple and my colors or non-colors.

More about this Belgian master next time.

Now to the George Costanza episode of today's post.  At the end of September and into October, I visited Maine, one of my favorite places on earth.  I was on a Wyeth quest - to see as much as was possible of the family's art and their Maine inspiration.  We stayed at East Wind Inn in Tenant's Harbor, 

Inn's view with lobster boats

visited the Farnsworth museum in Rockland, 

and toured Rockport, Camden and Wiscasset.  

Camden Harbor

One of the days, we took the ferry to Monhegan Island where Jamie Wyeth once lived and painted.

The trip over was smooth as my anticipation grew.  Below is what we found.

A painting everywhere.  But have you noticed the dark clouds rolling in to say nothing of the high swells.  Do you remember the Seinfeld episode when George Costanza pretends to be a marine biologist.  In the restaurant he is explaining how he saved a whale but prefaces his tale with, "the sea was angry that day, my friends!"  Well, our sea was angry that day, my friends, with 9 foot swells.  I live on a Finger Lake in New York state, which never gets 9 foot swells!   For an hour, I was terrified.  Black waves rolled over the ferry and as it pitched from side to side, I tried to remember if any ferries had ever been lost off the coast of Maine.  People were getting seasick and were all clinging with death grips to the seats ahead.  I was doing deep breathing just as in child birthing. When the ferry blessedly arrived at shore, I wanted to kiss the ground, but instead hugged the captain.  I really thought I might die that afternoon.

When returning to my quiet little lakeside town, I vowed not to leave home for awhile.  The leaves and laundry needed my attention, but then my daughter-in-law took a spill down her staircase and needed some help.  Off I flew to Bedford.  The pilot said the trip might be a little rocky till we got above the clouds, but it was absolutely nothing compared to the ferry.  That's one positive result of that terrifying trip - everything else pales by comparison.  Ted, Tater, was in rare form on my errand of mercy.  He loves balls and is talking a blue streak.

Sorry this has been such a wordy post.  Just be happy you did not see me in person after our trip.  Even the bartender "got an earful" as we sipped our Cosmos.  Next time more images, less chatter.

Stay on dry land-

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