I’ve loved getting to work with Olivia Brock of Lacquered Life and Torrance Mitchell Designs (a restoration and paint color consultation business) on the upcoming Historic Charleston Foundation Antique Show and Preview Party… So, to really get to know her, I asked her the questions that give me a true peek into someone’s personality!

Favorite drink before noon?

I always start my day with a strong cup of Irish Breakfast Tea. My

grandmother was British, and my love of tea is definitely inherited.

On the weekend, if I am at brunch with my husband Walker and the dogs

at High Thyme on Sullivan’s Island, I will totally have a Firefly vodka and

water with a lemon.

Favorite drink at 6pm?

I’ve recently developed a newfound love of gin, and Walker and I have

been perfecting our French 75.

Wine: red, white or champagne?

Prosecco

Hors d’ouerves that is always in the cabinet or fridge?

Luckily, we live just two blocks from goat.sheep.cow. so I never have to be

completely prepared … but I always have Fosters Market Seven Pepper

Jelly in the fridge, which goes amazingly well with Cypress Grove’s

Midnight Moon, or even just a simple extra sharp cheddar.

Music go to when friends are over….

Pandora station?

If it were entirely up to me, I would play music by members of the rat pack

during all my parties … Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc. However, Walker is

not the biggest fan, so I like soft bluegrass in the background … the Alison

Krauss station and the Jerry Douglas station are favorites.

Where would you like to go on vacation?

I would love to visit Austria in the summertime.

Favorite flower?

Hyacinths

Dream guest to have over for dinner?

That is such a hard question! I usually say preservation advocate and

writer Jane Jacobs, famed decorators Elsie de Wolfe and Albert Hadley,

and then probably some of Capote’s “Swans” like Marella Agnelli, Babe

Paley and CZ Guest. I have no idea what I would serve to this crowd, or

what china I would use, but boy what a party.

Favorite restaurant? 

Charleston: Peninsula Grill

New York: Due

And favorite thing to eat at this restaurant?

Peninsula: Lobster & Corn Chowder, and the Coconut Cake of course!

Due: Conchigle a la Sarda

Olivia is a Southern Living darling- she was named one of their 30 bloggers to follow in 2015, and her front door graces the Spring Cover. Go here for more details.

Southern Living also featured the home (that was once a tenement house from the 1780’s)  that Olivia and her husband restored to it’s original authenticity…What a dream project for someone with their Masters degree in Historic Preservation! Some of my favorite outtakes here.. This feature was styled by our friend Erin Swift, and photographs are by Francesco Lagnese.