July | 2011 | Fab Over Fifty Style Blog

29July

{Weekly Roundup}

The "finishing touch" this week -- fab posts you may have missed from around the web:

A fanny pack is a fanny pack

Wild thing

Vain glorious

Golden wonder

The joy of summer

May I ask where you got your glasses?

Women in the roaring twenties

Classics with cool

Are pantyhose back?

Until Monday, FOFs.

P.S. Stop hating your hair!

Image via Lulu's Vintage Blog

1 comments

28July

{Beauty} FOF Hair-apy session with Lois Joy Johnson

As a beauty and fashion director for over 30 years, Lois Joy Johnson has interviewed every stylist under the sun and sampled every product under the moon. As the author of Vibrant Nation's hair guide, she spent the last year putting all the top tricks together in one place. This week, we gave her your top FOF hair gripes, and she gave us a genius hair-apy session:

My hair is so dry since I went through menopause...what can I do?
Dry, brittle, dehydrated hair is a big issue for women in their 50s and 60s. Our generation was told that oil-free makeup and products were a good thing -- however, after menopause we need all the moisture we can get. Use moisturizing shampoos and conditioners, hair repair masques and alternate using dry shampoo and regular shampoo. (Read my product recommendations below).

Help! My hair is thinning. What do I do?
Every single women over fifty experiences some degree of thinning hair. Usually women say, "I have half the hair I had at 30." When thinning becomes excessive or you're experiencing dramatic hair loss, you need a doctor to identify the source -- either an endocrinologist (a hormone specialist) or a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss. In a lot of cases, hair loss has to do with hormones and a shift in estrogen but, it could also be a thyroid issue, iron deficiency, genetic or a compilation of causes.

What are some solutions for hair loss?
It would be great to say one product solves it all, but your doctor's diagnosis is really going to affect that treatment. Hereditary loss usually requires a hair transplant and there are certain surgeons who specialize in hair restoration. I think Dr. Gary Perrault in Beverly Hills and Dr. Catherine Orentreich in New York are the best in the business. Rogaine is the only over-the-counter topical treatment approved by the FDA for hair loss and regrowth. It increases the blood supply to the scalp and jump-starts growth at the hair follicles. It can work for some women, for some it doesn’t work at all, for others it may start working then stop. You have to use it every day, for life. It works best for women who have thinning at the crown and early hair loss. Some dermatologists prescribe Propecia, a pill that inhibits DHT production (DHT is what kills the hair follicle). It’s only approved by the FDA for men because it can cause birth defects, but many doctors will prescribe it to women past menopause.

Are there any supplements I can take to help with thinning hair?
I’ve always taken biotin supplements, which a lot of doctors and dermatologists recommend for thinning hair. I also take Viviscal, a supplement made with marine extracts such as shark, cod and biotin. Doctors and dermatologists have mixed opinions about the benefits of hair supplements. Some dermatologists say ‘it’s hocus pocus,’ some dermatologists say ‘I don’t know why -- but it works.’ I think they do.

Long or short after fifty?
The stereotypes about hair for women over fifty don’t exist anymore. Some women with short hair look modern and chic such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Ellen DeGeneres or Annette Bening. Then, others have long hair and look fabulous too such as Maria Schriver, Christie Brinkley or Michelle Pfeiffer. It’s hard to generalize but a cant miss length is mid-length from the chin to the collar bone. It seems to work for a lot of women and you can add choppy layers or bangs for texture.

Should I go gray or color it?
Few women have that Rolls Royce silvery, gray hair that's gorgeous. Think about Judi Dench, the model Carmen or Helen Mirren. Gray like that is usually enhanced with highlights to make it more dimensional and and luster. I think that even a small shift in color as your hair transitions helps brighten the skin, soften lines and shadows on the face and counteract pigmentation changes in the skin. Hair color can also create a fuller, thicker look when thinning becomes an issue. It coats the hair shaft making it feel thicker. Optically, tone-on-tone color or highlights helps create the illusion of movement, depth and texture. So, should you color? It's an individual choice and an option that should be considered carefully. I'll never give up my colorist Brad Johns and my super-blonde locks!

I’m going gray and want to dye my hair dark. What should I be wary of?
Light roots on dark hair can make your part seem wider and create the illusion of thinning hair -- exactly what you don't want. You really have to be vigilant about your roots between color fixes. There's no reason not to since Clairol and L'Oreal have excellent touch-up products that take only a few minutes to use.

I’m going gray and want to dye my hair blond. What should I be wary of?
If you are going for a dramatic color change -- go to a pro. Boosting light brown hair that is graying with at-home color a shade or two warmer or brighter is fine. However, if you are a brunette with gray that wants to go blond, use a colorist for best results. Be sure your skin tone contrasts with your hair color enough so that you don't appear washed out. The right blonde for women over fifty is broken up with warmer and lighter tones, not one uniform color which tends to look wiggy and retro.

I’m going gray and want to dye my hair red. What should I be wary of?
Red hair is the hardest to pull off at any age. If you weren’t a redhead in your youth, you better think a thousand times if you want to be a redhead after fifty. It’s difficult getting the right shade so it doesn’t look phony.

I think I’m just going to let my hair go gray... what should I keep in mind?
Many women think, ‘Whoopee! I decided not to dye my hair so now I don’t have to do anything.’ This isn’t true. Gray hair takes work because it comes in more wiry in texture and sometimes is more dry. You need to work with a stylist to find the right cut and condition it like crazy.

So, you’re saying that FOFs can pull off color or gray, long or short hair...is there anything they can’t pull off?
Barrettes. I was at the opera and there was a chic, elegantly-dressed woman who had little glittery barrettes in her hair. I thought ‘No more cutesy hair accessories! Save them for your granddaughter.’ Headbands have to be very selectively used. They can work sometimes but keep it simple -- a thin, leather or tortoise shell headband in neutral colors.

1. You can freshen your hair without having to shampoo it every five seconds. FOF hair is already dry and washing too often can dry it out more. Try Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo.
2. A deep penetrating conditioner or hair mask is important for women over fifty -- it helps nourish your hair. I like Davines NOUNOU Nourishing Repair Mask because it has olive butter in it.
3. I hear women, especially women over fifty, complain all the time that their dryer is too heavy. I use a T3 travel hair dryer because it’s lighter but has just as much power as a full-size one. It's expensive but worth every penny.
4. I alternate between this amazing Italian product Terax Conditioner and the Fekkai glossing conditioner. Terax is more expensive than drugstore products, but I like to splurge on my haircare.
5. I think women really misuse styling products. If you have fine hair, you don’t want to pile a lot of stuff on. I just use a teeny bit of John Frieda Hair Serum to give it a smooth, finished look. I think this serum is the best.
6. Use dry hair conditioners -- ones with olive oil and shea butter are particularly nourishing. Try Fekkai Glossing Conditioner
7. I’m pretty loyal to John Frieda products, because they just work. When I use shampoo, I use John Frieda’s Sheer Blonde.

[Read the entire interview with Lois here]

6 comments

27July

{Poll} Bizarre Celeb Beauty Rituals: Would you try them?

*Sigh* the things FOFs do for beauty! And these 5 FOF celebs take it to a whole new level... Read about their bizarre beauty rituals, see what a dermatologist thinks, then vote: Would you try it?

Call it vinotherapy. Actually, that's what top resorts in Spain, Portugal and France are already calling pricey beauty treatments where wine residue is rubbed into the skin. In The Black Book of Hollywood Beauty Secrets, Kym Douglas and celebrity journalist Cindy Pearlman write that Teri Hatcher uses sediment from red wine to polish her skin in the tub. "I scoop them up and use them as an exfoliant," says Teri. "The only bad thing is you can't drink the whole bottle of wine." According to the authors, polyphenols found in grapes get blood flowing.

Dr. Krant says: "Scrubbing and massaging get blood flowing on their own, so it's not clear if she is getting the benefit she expects from the red wine itself. Proanthocyanidins from red grapes have been shown to have real health benefits from their antioxidant properties when ingested, but the anti-aging effect from topical use has much less scientific evidence behind it."

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Milk does a body good...but what about a face? Cindy Crawford thinks so. The Daily Record reports that the almost-FOF supermodel mixes milk and water and sprays in on her face to keep her skin hydrated. Milk baths have apparently been around for centuries; historical beauties including Cleopatra and Elizabeth I of England indulged in the lactic luxury. Everybody's mooin..er..doin' it.

Dr. Krant says: "Milk contains lactic acid which does contain some exfoliative and skin-softening properties. Milk fats also help moisturize and keep skin supple."

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Ever wonder how some celebs get that "baby-faced" complexion? Just ask FOF diva Madonna, who reportedly uses a face cream made with human placenta. The product is called EMK Placental, and according to BeautyUndercover.com, Madonna and a slew of other A-listers are using it. Placenta "helps oxygenate your skin...improve natural cellular renewal and... protects your skin from the assault of environmental stress, UV radiation...and the natural aging process," according to the EMK Placental product website.

Dr. Krant says: "Placenta contains many growth factors and vitamins. It has been studied for wounds, but there has been little to no scientific proof of its affect on intact, healthy human skin."

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Almost-FOF actress Sandra Bullock has become the butt of tabloid jokes for her bizarre beauty ritual. Glamour UK reports that Sandra uses hemorrhoid cream under her eyes to reduce puffiness. "I didn't realise that putting hemorrhoid ointment on your face is acceptable in the beauty business," says Sandra. "But apparently, butt cream helps lines around the eyes!" Sandra says it's true....so, no butts about it.

Dr. Krant says: Preparation H from the 1950's did contain an ingredient, Bio-Dyne (R), that helped de-puff, but that ingredient has been removed from the modern version of the cream--in the United States. Bio-Dyne does still come in the Canadian preparation. So it's not just any hemorrhoid cream that can do the trick. Makes you wonder which one Sandra is using....

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Debra Messing doesn't throw a hissy fit about her eye wrinkles... No, she just uses snake venom to smooth them out. That's right, this almost-FOF actress uses an eye cream which contains snake's venom as an active ingredient, according to The Sun, "The venom slows the reponses of the face muscles, creating a wrinkle-free effect."

Dr. Krant says: "Venom has not been proven to penetrate through healthy, intact skin to the deep layers where the target muscles lie. This product likely has no scientific benefit (in the manner claimed) at all. In order to get the muscle-weakening benefit, the only proven treatment is still injected botulinum toxins (Botox) and Dysport, and a new one coming out soon. Sorry, needle-phobes."

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Talk about a detox. MSNBC reports that actress Demi Moore uses "highly-trained medical leeches" to keep healthy. “It detoxifies your blood,” she told Letterman. Demi explains that these blood sucking vermin, “have a little enzyme that gets released into your blood... and your health is optimized." Um, okay... “I feel like I’ve always been someone looking for the cutting edge of things that optimize your health and healing," she says. Despite Demi's loyalty to leeches, we predict this beauty trend will be sluggish to catch on...

Dr. Krant says: "Leeches have been used for centuries in medical treatments. Hirudo medicinalis, or medicinal leeches, likely the 'highly-trained' species Demi is referring to, are used effectively by surgeons to aid in wound cleaning, reconstructive surgery and other advanced treatments, but currently there is no proof that leech therapy has any anti-aging properties. Do not try this at home since uncontrollable, prolonged bleeding and infection can be undesired side effects."

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Dr. Jessica J. Krant is a dermatologist based in New York and the founder of Art of Dermatology, LLC. She is also Assistant Clinical Professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York City.

Images via Zimbio

3 comments

26July

{Beauty} Your hair changed color…should your wardrobe?

So, you dyed your hair. Or, maybe you're going gray, gracefully. Do you need to revamp your closet and cosmetics case to match? We consulted FOF color guru Jill Kirsh to help us get to the bottom of this color conundrum.

Jill believes that since your hair frames your face, the colors you wear should coordinate with the color of your locks. "If you change your hair drastically, you need to change your clothing and makeup," says Jill. "If you're just adding highlights, no big deal. You don't need to wear different colors." A few months ago, Jill helped three FOF sisters find new colors to work with their new hair. "When I let my hair go white, I panicked because I didn't have one color that looked good on me," says Mary Ann Milhous, one of the FOF sisters. "I called Jill and said 'I need help!'" Read about the color changes Jill suggested for these FOFs below.

Mary Ann (left) -- "Mary Ann had reddish-brown locks but has let her hair go white," says Jill. "Burnt orange (see 'before' photo) used to be one of her best shades. Now, not so much. It seems fragmented and makes her appear older. A bubble-gum pink (see 'after' photo) works so much better with her now-white hair. Your eye is drawn up from the color to her face to her hair and she looks totally put together."

Janice (right) -- "Janice had warm-blonde hair but has gone gray," says Jill. "Camel (see 'before' photo) used to be a really good color for her because it brought out the warmth in her hair. Now that she's gone gray, camel looks muddy. It makes her gray hair look dull, almost greenish. A chambray-blue (see 'after" photo) is a much better choice with her gray hair. The cool blue is in sync with her hair color and she looks much more alive."

Best colors for cool grays: french blue, mint green, lavender, dusty rose, burgundy, taupe, dove gray, raspberry, off white, winter white and more.

Judy (center) -- "Carnation pink (see 'before' photo) may have worked for Judy when she was an ash-blonde, but not anymore. Now that she's added warm, golden highlights to her hair, the pale pink washes her out and makes her newly-caramel colored locks appear a bit brassy. This warm green (see 'after' photo) works better."

Best colors for Judy and other golden brown and redheads: teal, mustard, rust, champagne-white, poppy and more.

"I'm enjoying the freedom of not having to dye my hair every three or four weeks," says Mary Ann. "And, I'm in the process of changing my wardrobe thanks to Jill. With each new color I wear, I get more compliments than ever!

Want to know what your most flattering colors are? Ask FOF guru Jill Kirsh, here.

6 comments

26July

{Giveaway} $360 worth of anti-aging products

FOF beauty guru Marta Wohrle, of TruthInAging, is giving away her 3 fave products for FOFs. To enter, answer this question in the comments below: What brand of moisturizer do you use?

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

FOF Marta Wohrle, a former journalist and publishing exec, launched TruthInAging three years ago as a source for unbiased produ

ct reviews on the plethora of beauty products flooding the "anti-aging" market. "I realized that many indie beauty brands--that didn't have big ad budgets--weren't getting the media attention they deserved," she explains.

"For years, we were told nothing works for anti-aging but sunscreen or thousand-dollar injections," says Marta. "But, over the past few years, smaller companies have been producing products with new ingredients that are actually very effective."

Since then, Marta has tested hundreds of independent beauty products, stocking her e-store with only the ones she deems effective after at least three weeks of testing. Here she shares her five faves (and gives away 3!):

Your Best Face Correct Eye Cream (Win!) - "I started using this about two years ago and haven't stopped since," says Marta. "It's the product I always go back to. It's pricey -- $150-- but it really does repair fine lines. I use it daily."

Reluma Anti-Aging Serum (Win!) - "All the products in the Reluma line are very good, but if I had to choose one, it would be the anti-aging serum," says Marta. "It's very effective for wrinkles and smoothing out the skin. Everything in the line is based on cutting-edge stem-cell technology. This serum has human growth factors that help skin repair itself. I use it daily."

La Vie Celeste Extra Rich Face Cream (Win!)- "La Vie Celeste is a natural skin care line with lots of organic ingredients," says Marta. "Their extra rich cream is great for very dry skin and has a good anti-aging peptide called chronoline. My skin isn't terribly dry so I use it 2-3 times a week, at night.

Nutra-Lift Simply Superb Shampoo with Goat Milk - "I'm still looking for the holy grail of hair product, but I like this goat milk shampoo," says Marta. "It's not expensive, has all natural ingredients and makes aging hair look more youthful if it's losing the shine."

Sirius Aurora LED Light Therapy System - "I've found this at-home light therapy system is really great for plumping up the skin and building collagen," says Marta. "It has blue light for acne, green for age spots or hyper-pigmentation and red for wrinkles. It's our bestseller, and it's really effective. But you have to be diligent and use it three times a week."

Enter to win Marta's 3 fave products for FOFs. 1 FOF will win. To enter, answer this question in the comments below: What brand of moisturizer do you use?

(See all our past winners. See official rules. One winner is chosen at random from all those commenters who answer the question. Contest closes August 4, 2011.)

450 comments

25July

{Fashion Flash}

It’s a hot, hot summer, but the femmes from Fashion Flash give the coolest advice ever. Start the week by checking out their marvelous blogs.

1. Get the latest scoop on what's new in plus size denim styles.

2. No one makes beautiful shoes like Christian Louboutin. The signature red sole adds a jus ne sais quois to every look. Check out the bestshoes for Fall 2011.

3. Can you lose weight and enjoy a cool one? Fitness and fat loss expert, Shawna K explains.

4. No-Nonsense Beauty Blog takes aim at celebrity beauty advice

5. Survive this hot summer with a cool refreshing Blueberry-Lime margarita that is Menopause Makeover approved - low calories and loaded vitamin C. Yummers!

6. Kari from Fab Over Forty interviews Mikey Castillo from Le Metier de Beaute on how women over 40 can apply their makeup to look prettier and younger.

7. Maxi dresses are all the rage this summer, but are they appropriate for an afternoon wedding? Check out what the Glam Gals have to say at Fabulous after 40.

0 comments

22July

{Weekly Roundup}

Try not to wilt from the summer heat, FOFs. Get inside and catch up on the best blog posts from around the web this week.

Urban boudoir

Summer essentials

Visit a penthouse in Rome

A much needed summer accessory

Burn notice

High style, small space

Release your energy flow and realize your beauty

The way we wore

Weight loss secrets from an unlikely guru... a cookbook author!

Trending: Tortoise shell

Elizabeth Taylor's baubles

Jeepers Creepers

Until Monday...

P.S. Living room makeover on a $350 budget!

Image via Lonny Mag

3 comments

20July

{Giveaway} Win a room makeover blueprint

Win a room makeover blueprint from FOF interior design genius Teri Brajewski, of TWB Design. Teri will get a sense of your style, space and budget over the phone, then provide a custom plan for your room re-do including layout, color suggestions and links to suggested furniture, lighting and accessories. To enter, comment below and answer: Which room would you re-do?

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

Have you ever wished your home had museum-caliber decor? Hire a former Metropolitan Museum of Art employee. No, really.

After FOF Teri Brajewski graduated from art school, she worked in top New York art galleries before spending five years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But for the past twenty years, Teri has been using her eye for design to spruce up homes and commercial spaces. She's worked on a 12,000-square-foot residence in Connecticut, a trendy 2,400-square-foot loft in downtown Manhattan, a top NYC law office--and everything in between. She stopped to chat with us on her way home from a job in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn where she's helping design a 1900s-schoolhouse-turned-apartment!

What was working at the Met like?
Oh, fabulous -- I worked under the director, Philippe de Montebello, a large figure in the art world.

How did you make the transition from museum art to interior design?
I went to F.I.T. and got a degree in interior design.

What is your design style?
I'm really flexible, but I definitely identify myself as a colorist. I take what my clients want to do, or the direction of style they like, and clarify that. There's such a vast amount of choices when it comes to design. I narrow down the selections.

Tell me about a project you are really proud of.
I designed a home for an FOF in East Hampton. It's a modest house, and although it's not so close to the beach, I brought that casual beach flavor into the home. I did it in a subtle way with corals and teals. I designed it to be very light, airy and open.

Where do you shop for furnishings?
I try to source American-made furniture when I can. I like a lot of the small shops in Brooklyn such as Rico on Atlantic Avenue and Wud Furniture--a Brooklyn-based furniture designer. I go to the Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York in May and the High Point Market in North Carolina.

Where do you get design inspiration?
I look at the Remodelista blog. It's like a breath of fresh air. I also recently checked out Emma's Blog -- she's a little more international. Until I get an iPad, I'm more into magazines. I love Interior Design Magazine--more of a trade publication, although it's available on news stands. I also loved Metropolitan Home. I was so upset when it folded. Dwell and Metropolis are also favorites.

What's a common design mistake you see?
Some people feel like everything needs to match. It needs to flow and work together, but you can mix up colors and patterns. I have a sofa with greens and browns in a very small weave, but the pillows are black and coral which go with my coral ottoman. Take that leap in color and texture.

Enter to win a a room makeover blueprint from FOF interior design genius, Teri Brajewski of TWB Design. One FOF will win a phone consultation plus a custom design plan for their room. To enter, comment below and answer: Which room would you re-do?

(See all our past winners. See official rules. One winner is chosen at random from all those who ask a question. Contest closes July 28, 2011.)

Images by Heather Weston

111 comments

20July

{Interiors} One FOF’s living room makeover on a $350 budget

FOF Lauri Ward built her business, Use What You Have Interiors, on the theory that anyone, on any budget, can have a beautiful home using the furnishings they already own. A few months ago we put her theory to the test!

The challenge: Help FOF Marcia Robinson by making over her entire living room in three hours... with a $350 budget. Did she do it?

“Tired and uninspiring,” is how FOF Marcia Robinson described her living room when she entered our room makeover contest in January. Marcia has lived in her one-bedroom, Manhattan apartment for 25-years. Ten years ago she attempted to furnish it in one-fell-swoop with pieces she loved. "Everything went wrong," says Marcia. "The glass came cracked on the coffee table, the wall unit was too small. It was a big hassle." Frustrated, Marcia took to decorating the apartment piecemeal over the years. However, her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, and a forced-retirement from her job at a management consulting firm, has put a hold on any recent updates to Marcia's living room.

And as for the actual "living" that goes on in this room...there's not much. "I spend most of my time in my bedroom where my computer is," says Marcia. Lauri says the room's "visual chaos," is why Marcia might not find it relaxing. "When I look around, there's no blank space to rest my eye," says Lauri. "The good news," she tells Marcia, "is that by correcting a few common design mistakes that most people make, you can update your living room without buying all new furniture. Your home should look as up-to-date as you do."

Read on and discover the mistakes and quick fixes Lauri found for Marcia's living room.

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"You can never have two many pairs," says Lauri, who swapped Marcia's mismatched lamps for a pair of lamps from IKEA ($69.99 each). She also added two IKEA throw pillows ($14.99 each) to the couch. "The more pairs you put in a room, the better it looks. You need the balance."

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"The couches were set up in an L configuration with two chairs in the corner. This is probably the worst setup there is for comfortable conversation," says Lauri. "Plus, the chairs were too far from the coffee table."

"We took away one couch, and set up the furniture in a U-shape. Now, everyone can sit and face each other. You can put out hors d'oeurves on the coffee table and everyone can comfortably reach."

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"You collect so much stuff over a lifetime," says Lauri. "It's nice to have all these things, but you need to edit what you own and accessorize effectively."

"Reevaluate what you have," says Lauri. "Keep the pieces you love. Donate everything else to charity and get a write off." She grouped similar accessories together to create collections and got rid of pieces that were misfits. Marcia's plants are important to her, but the mismatched pots weren't working. Lauri moved the plants into window boxes to conceal the pots and repositioned them under the coffee table creating an terrarium-like effect.

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"People think they should hang art at eye level," says Lauri. "There's no such thing as eye level since we are all different heights."

"Follow the three inch rule," says Lauri. "Hold art up where you think it should go, then lower it three inches." By swapping the chaotic gallery wall for one striking picture, Lauri says the viewer's eyes can focus.

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"Before, the rug was distracting and competing with the fabric on the sofa," says Lauri. "This rug introduces a color that's in the sofa's fabric. When you have a patterned sofa you want to look for solids for everything else."

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Mission accomplished! The result? A living room that Marcia can live in! "Now, you can sit in here and read," says Lauri. "You'll finally be comfortable." What does Marcia think? "It's quite a change!... I like it."

IKEA shopping list: Two "Dagny" cushions ($14.99 each), Vejen rug ($89.99), Hosto flower box ($14.99), Felicia throw ($9.99), Vilshult picture ($59.99), Two Jonsbo Barby table lamps ($59.99 each)

Grand Total: $324.92

22 comments

20July

{Interiors} Old memories, new home…

When you're FOF, moving means taking a lifetime of memories and trying to work them into a completely new space--while simplifying of course. We spoke to one FOF who downsized when her children left the nest, but managed to make her new house a home....

FOF Kathy McPherson and her husband Tom moved from the D.C. suburbs to the historical village of Pinehurst, North Carolina, where they constructed their 6,000 sq. ft. empty-nest "cottage" just last year. They chose a lot on Pinehurst No. 2, a history-rich golf course, to build their new digs.

"I wanted to create a place where old and new collide and past and future generations meet," says Kathy.

In each room of the house, old and new live seamlessly side by side. For instance, Kathy designed the kitchen with a brand-new GE range alongside an antique butter churn passed down from her grandmother.

A carefully-edited collection of relics, such as a Barbie doll from Kathy's childhood, manage to impart nostalgia without clutter. "I couldn't imagine parting with any family heirlooms," says Kathy. Anything Kathy didn't have room for, she found a way to keep in the family. Her son, Richmond, got antique bedroom furniture passed down from his grandmother, and Kathy put other meaningful pieces in storage for when her daughter, Katherine, has more room. "I did give away furniture, artwork, toys... things that didn't have sentimental value," says Kathy. "That was easy."

A history fanatic, Kathy throws annual birthday parties for Winston Churchill, (“We do Churchill trivia, serve all his favorite foods and hand out chocolate cigars as favors.”) loves to visit historical towns and shop at antique stores. But she also scores big at Pottery Barn.

And while Kathy and her husband expect to spend their twilight years in this house, they’ve built it with future generations in mind; a “bunk room” for grandchildren is on the second floor, and their dining room was built to accommodate 50 guests. They hosted their daughter’s wedding rehearsal dinner there last March.

“Our hope is that, just like the Pinehurst cottages of the 1800s, this home will still be serving a family 100 years from now, and it will be admired for the way it integrates into the village,” says Kathy. “As future generations of golfers pass by, I hope they look at our home and say, ‘Gee, that looks like a neat place to be.”

Images by Katherine Miles Jones

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