The Crowd: Decorating for beauty and charity
She is an interior designer with a world-class reputation who also happens to be a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal.
Charlotte Moss, born in Richmond, Va., the daughter of an Army colonel, grew up influenced by her grandmother, who sold china in a department store. Today, Moss designs and creates fine china for the Pickard Co. In addition, her designs are featured in fabrics and trims manufactured by Fabricut, carpeting produced by the famous Stark Carpet company and furniture and upholstery made by Century Furniture.
Moss visited Newport Beach this week as a very special guest of the Decorative Arts Society (DARTS).
From her headquarters in Manhattan, she oversees design projects across the United States and abroad. Moss has also found time to pen nine hardcover books. Her most recent publication, “Garden Inspirations,” published by Rizzoli in 2015, expands on her philosophy of taking inspiration for fine living from the natural world.
One of Moss’ favorite expressions is also the title of one of her books, “A Flair for Living.” She did not disappoint the Newport crowd with her elegant flamboyance as she greeted members of DARTS at a Monday evening reception hosted by the chic Elana Donovan at her classic French chateau in Big Canyon.
Recently, Moss welcomed a sold-out crowd at Edward’s Big Newport 6, delivering a lecture focusing on the highlights of her latest book, her career and her philosophy of living well. Part of that philosophy, a significant part, is Moss’ philanthropic endeavors. The designer has directed her rather significant financial success into serving on the boards of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, The Bone Marrow Foundation, The Elsie de Wolfe Foundation and the advisory board of the New York School of Interior Design, which bestowed upon Moss an honorary doctorate.
Moss circulated among the Newport social crowd and chatted with DARTS board President Mary Anna Jeppe and fellow society members Hyla Bertea, Sandra Ayres, Caroline Garrett, Cecilia Nott, Bonnie McClellan and Hilary Niblo,
Moss was certainly in her element wandering the classically landscaped European garden with its perfectly trimmed boxed hedges and florals. Catering for the Monday night reception was provided by the culinary expertise of Fork Knife + Spoon. Talented Newport designers welcoming Moss to the O.C. included Ann Dennis, Marion Palley, Barbara Glabman, Brenda Eastman and Linda Phillips.
Over the holidays, DARTS welcomed Ronda Carman, who was in marketing before transitioning into fabric design. She created her own line of fine fabrics and launched her business in 2014.
Her blog, “All The Best Blog,” which she began in 2007, is the evolution of a life of travel, food, wine, architecture and design.
Carman was welcomed for a DARTS Monday night reception at the Corona del Mar residence of Hyla and Richard Bertea. An enormous DARTS turnout included society standouts Barbara and Alex Bowie, Linda and Denny Campbell, Carol and Bruce Andrews, Dorine and Brandon Birtcher, Marcia and John Cashion, and Barbara and David Cline.
Also front and center were respected designer John Benecke, Cathi Bledsoe, the classy Caroline Holder, Nancy Curci, Sally and Bob Griffiths, Liz Lund, Barbara Roberts, Carole and Barry Steele, and Marilyn and Bill Robbins.
Each year, the Decorative Arts Society raises significant funds from its series of lectures on the world of the decorative arts. In this, its 21st annual program of events, DARTS has welcomed designer Betsy Burnham in addition to Carman and Moss.
Finishing the series in March and April will be Hutton Wilkinson, Flynn Kuhnert and Peter Dunham. Speakers for the DARTS programs are generously underwritten by South Coast Plaza. Funds raised from members support numerous local charities.
The 2015-2016 grant recipients include Blind Children’s Learning Center, CASA Youth Shelter, Environmental Nature Center, Families Forward, Mariposa Women and Family Center, Project Hope Alliance, Providence Speech and Hearing Center and Youth Employment Services. For more information on DARTS, visit www.decorativeartssociety.net.
B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
