Illustration by Julia Rothman

I am utterly devoted to my cats (cats have that power over you). But unbeknownst to them, I harbor secret dog fantasies, which involve me driving a beat-up pickup truck with a buddy dog wearing a blue bandana at my side. Yes, we cat people can be dog people, too. The ancient Egyptians are well known for their cat obsession, but they also had an affectionate relationship with canines. Cleopatra was said to have given miniature greyhounds to Caesar. Some of the more touching historic examples of the bond between human and dog come from members of European royalty. Fear of disease and distrust meant that royal children lived relatively solitary lives. Often their only friends would have been those of the four-legged variety. When the middle classes grew throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, ways to pamper pets increased. In honor of pet families, this Past & Present is going to the dogs. — Amy Azzarito

Tonight is the book launch party for Past & Present at West Elm on Broadway and 62nd. If you’re in New York, Grace, Max and I would love to meet you! There will drinks and Smilebooth, and the projects from the book will be on display. RSVP here.

Dog Collars

The first accessory ever put on a dog was most certainly a collar. After all, then as now, the collar was essential for training, identified ownership and also reflected social standing. Archaeologists recently unearthed King Cuo of Zhongshan (pre-dynastic, 323–309 BC China), who had been buried with his dog. His apparently much-beloved dog was still wearing his collar of gold, silver and turquoise. Roman dogs belonging to high-ranking members of society wore collars of beautifully wrought silver. Medieval hunting dogs wore more utilitarian collars with protective spikes. And Renaissance tapestries frequently depict dogs wearing elaborately jeweled collars. Louis XI of France (1423–1483) may have been a cheapskate, but he loosened the purse strings when it came to his favorite greyhound. The dog wore a collar made of scarlet velvet decorated with 20 pearls and 11 rubies. These royal collars weren’t just status symbols; they were propaganda. Anne of Brittany, the wife of Louis XI’s son, Charles VIII, had 24 pet dogs, and each wore a black velvet collar from which were suspended four ermine paws of pure white — a reference to the Brittany arms in which an ermine is depicted.

Image above: 1. French 19th-century silver plated collar, $650 | 2. French brass and leather collar with bulldog heads, sold for $780 inc. premium | 3. A gold collar consisting of three tapering bars, fused at the ends. A catch-plate, loosely attached by hooks at the end, which pass through perforations, allows the collar to be taken on and off the neck. The front segments of the bars carry incised geometric ornaments divided into panels and fringed with a dog’s tooth design. From the British Museum. | 4. Victorian engraved silvered metal and leather collar, sold for $3,000 | 5. & 6. Victorian dog collar, sold as a set of 3 for $1159

More past dog history and present dog goodies after the jump . . .

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I think I can say, without a shred of a doubt, that I would never want to live in Victorian times. In addition to poor hygiene and pre-antibiotic diseases, the era was known for its nonexistent child labor laws, straitlaced moral codes and inflexible social roles. Even from a design standpoint, the Victorian era was lacking, with some of the most reviled, anti-ergonomic design known to mankind. All of this being said, though, the Victorians did do some things right. Like entertaining.

When it came to throwing a good party, those Victorians sure knew how to have a good time. Unlike today, when all of our social skills have atrophied to the point where we can’t interact without “@” tags before our names, the people of Victorian times had social interaction and ice-breaking down to a science. No awkward small talk with The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With. No hovering near the food table while trying to look invested in a deep, textual conversation. No needing to drown out the silence with loud music! How did those suave, debonair Victorians do it? I’ll tell you. They did it with games.

The parlor game, while still in existence today, had its heyday in the nineteenth century when home entertaining was all the rage. In need of affordable diversions, the new middle class turned their parlors into meeting places — salons for imbibing, regaling and merry-making. One of the many customs to gain popularity from this Victorian practice was parlor games — games that could be played by a large group of people with few or sometimes no supplies. Games like Charades, I Spy, Bridge and dominoes proved to be big hits for Victorian partygoers, and it’s no surprise why.

In recent years, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a few parties where parlor games were central to the festivities. Whether I was playing Catchphrase or Settlers of Catan, I found that games were amazing ways to liven people up, lighten the mood and get people talking. Pair that with some good cocktails and a few finger foods, and you’ve got yourself a good night! While I’m definitely happy to be living with all my modern contrivances, I tip my hat to my nineteenth-century predecessors for knowing how to get down. To celebrate the lost art of the game party, we decided to throw one of our own! After the jump, you’ll find inspiration for fabulous party crafts, food and, of course, games! — Max

Above image: Some good parlor-game kit supplies include pencils, paper, playing cards, dice, a timer and a dictionary for word games. We put all of our supplies into a used cigar box, available for a few dollars at tobacco shops. Pencils from InkKit, playing cards from Dry Goods, vintage dice from Modern Anthology.

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The best part of growing up in a family with four kids was the massive game closet that inevitably develops as a result of birthdays and holidays. And now that we’re all grown up, get-togethers still aren’t complete unless there is at least one deck of cards on hand. Even now, my siblings (and their spouses) and I tend to be a wee bit competitive — doesn’t everyone trash talk while playing gin? We’re always looking for new games to play. If you miss the game-playing days of your youth, there’s no time like the present to bring them back. Max designed a fun (and non-trash-talking) game party that’s coming up next! — Amy Azzarito

Image above: 1. Mini Chess & Checkers Set, $19.49 | 2. Artisan Playing Cards, $6.95 | 3. Main Street Classics, 6-in-1 Game Set, $15.90 | 4. Black Magic Playing Cards, $12.99 | 5. The Frick Collection Playing Cards, $22 | 6. Monopoly Nostalgia Tin, $29.99 | 7. Fredericks & Mae Dominos, $80

More games after the jump . . .

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I have to admit that one of the best parts of this makeover came at the end of the email chain between me and the homeowner, Sarah Hubbell. While sharing some details and photo credits with me, she casually mentioned that in addition to editing Emma Magazine, she was also one of the house members of The Real World: Hollywood. I am a confessed Real World addict, so when I heard the season, I instantly knew who she was. Thinking about the full circle that this has made from my TV screen to a beautiful home on my computer screen makes me smile.

After her time on The Real World, Sarah founded a beautiful home and lifestyle blog, The Hubbell Chronicles, and became the editor-in-chief of Emma, a magazine devoted to DIY, entertaining and all sorts of crafting ideas. She and her husband moved into a 1940s ranch home just before Sarah gave birth to their first child. Sarah describes this living room (the focus of the makeover) as the “owner’s only idea of an ‘update’ because the rest of the house looked untouched in seven decades’ time.” Covered in faux wood paneling, the room was begging for a makeover, and with the help of their friends, Sarah and her husband did just that. The full makeover and furnishing details continue after the jump. Thanks so much, Sarah, for sharing this with us! xo, grace

Photos by Gina Meola, Stephanie Fay and Michelle Herrick

The full post continues after the jump . . .

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When people attempt home makeovers, there is often an impulse to embrace the over side of the phrase. To turn around previously shabby spaces, homeowners can find themselves locked into thinking that deep colors, statement pieces and frivolous ornamentation are the way to go. While the Extreme Makeover approach certainly does suit some spaces, making under rather than making over can be just as, if not more, effective. Just ask Liz, the blogger behind ELA’s Smile. When tasked with transforming her new home’s breakfast nook, she took the exact opposite approach of the previous owners, who had painted the area a brash green and fuchsia combo. The new look is the pared-down antithesis of its previous incarnation. Even though Liz retained traditional styling for the furniture, her constrained color palette and minimal detailing are totally modern, lending the space a much-needed breath of fresh air. She was able to include an eye-catching element of color with a DIY patterned rug beneath