I spend quite a lot of time in Fort Lauderdale and Miami…
Read MoreDesign for Living: Palm Beach Classic
contemporary style
What I'm Reading: Barefoot Luxury: Mexican Resort Living by Sandra Espinet
I've just been reading the luscious new coffee table book…
Read MoreDesign for Living: Decorating With Sofa Cushions
In my November Interior design post, Living Room Layouts I talked about furniture placement...
Read MoreTimeless Style: Fall Trends 2016
Velvet, brocade and lace dominate Trends for Fall. So, I thought that would be the discussion...
Read MoreLiving With Art - Art Basel Miami 2015
Art Basel Miami 2015
We're here for another round of Art Basel Miami. In its 14th year and still going strong, with more satellite shows than ever spread out all over Miami Beach, expanding as far as Little Haiti in Miami. Art Basel is as much about socializing as looking and purchasing art and regarded as the contemporary art destination for big collectors and novices alike. Here you can entertain clients, extend your network and yes, maybe buy some art.
Read MoreDesign for Living: Brownstone Brooklyn Living
Brownstone Brooklyn Living
I came across an article on One Kings Lane recently about fellow Brooklynite, Jodi Patterson who lives in her perfect world with her husband and four kids. Jodi is the owner and creative director of organic health and beauty products at GeorgiaNY and co-founder of Doo-Bop a multi cultural skin-care and hair-care destination.
Read MoreTimeless Style: London's Grand Hotels
London's Grand Hotels
When friends are visiting London they often ask me where they should stay. London's grand hotels with more than 10 to choose from is an enticing option. The grand hotel is a style the Brits excel at and staying in one of these very posh establishments overnight or longer is part and parcel of enjoying a particular type of London experience.
Read MoreTimeless Style: My Favorite New Manhattan Restaurants - Part 1
My Favorite New Manhattan Restaurants - Part l
Manhattan is jumping with various new restaurants popping up all over town. One of my current favorites, The Clock Tower is a beautifully appointed restaurant at the New York Edition Hotel, which my friend and fellow foodie Carol Papper invited me to for lunch - great choice! World renowned boutique hotel entrepreneur, Ian Schrager has reimagined the iconic Metropolitan Life building, situated on Madison Park in the FlatIron district into a sleek, contemporary light-filled environment of bleached oak wood finishes, floor to ceiling sheer window treatments, clear crystal chandeliers and artistically placed glass accessories. Interior designer Christian Liaigre's furniture and lighting are used throughout the lobby, bar areas and guest-rooms, emphasizing a cool, sophisticated, international vibe. You can refer to my June 10th post "What I'm Reading Right Now" for more details on the Christian Liaigre interior design aesthetic.
Read MoreWhat I'm Reading Right Now - Liaigre 12 Projects
Christian Liaigre, one of my favorite interior and furniture designers has just published his most recent book, Liaigre 12 Projects. I was invited to the reception launching both the book and the new Spring collection of furniture and fabrics, which Liaigre designed in collaboration with his wife, Déborah Comte-Liaigre. Their aesthetic is minimalist luxury, creating beautifully hand crafted furniture in refined woods, such as open grain walnut and Larch wood. All the furniture is crafted in France and the design and production of each piece is of the highest quality.
Read MoreTimeless Style - Amsterdam & Brussels Art Tour
I'm a little out of synch with my posts because I've just returned from Amsterdam and Brussels on an art collectors' trip. My Living with Art October 15 post was about this trip and how excited I was about staying at the Waldorf Astoria in Amsterdam - it didn't disappoint. The hotel's a year old and the results of the renovation of 3 townhouses along the canal was spectacular. Sadly, we were only there for 4 days and everyone hated to leave. There's a welcoming mega-sized candle from the French company Cire Trudon, wafting Ernesto throughout the lobby. Of course every time I smell Ernesto going forward it will conjure up this trip. Between several of us we bought up the entire inventory of that particular candle to the surprise of the storeowner.
Read MoreDesign for Living - One Denman Place London, Vacation Apartments
I'm a huge fan of the London based Firmdale Hotel group. Whenever Philippe and I are in London we stay at their Knightsbridge Hotel and its become our home away from home. One Denman Place with apartments for stays of 90 days or more has just been added to this distinctive group, located in the Ham Yard hotel in Soho, which itself opened just last year. There are one, two and three bedrooms apartments available with interior design by co-owner Kit Kemp in her singular eclectic style incorporating antiques, found items and an abundant mix of textured patterned fabrics.
Read MoreDesign for Living: Bottega Veneta Furniture Collection
As Bottega Veneta continues to extend their lifestyle brand they recently opened a home store in no less than the 18th-Century Palazzo Gallarati in Milan. Art and commerce blend seamlessly with beautiful frescos painted by Giovanni Battista and Carlo Innocenzo, juxtaposed with the contemporary and elegantly spare Bottega Veneta furniture collection. Designed by Tomas Meier, "The Bottega Veneta home collection is dedicated to those who are drawn to understated, luxurious furnishings crafted with the finest materials in the heart of Milan, I wanted to create an intimate discreet destination for clients to be able to immerse themselves in the Italian art de vivre of Bottega Veneta."
Read MoreLiving With Art - Lisa & Richard Perry's Contemporary Art Collection
Lisa Perry, the 60's era pop fashion designer not only dresses, designs and passionately collects clothes from that period, the sumptuous showcase penthouse apartment at 1 Sutton Place South she shares with her husband Richard, is also dedicated to the swinging 60's. I had a delightful visit to view their art collection last summer with the Perez Art Museum Miami. Walking into this very stately co-op, built in 1926 by the renowned architect, Rosario Candela located on quiet, sedate Sutton Place is a big departure from the dazzling white lacquer floors and walls of the atrium where the elevator opens on the penthouse level.
Read MoreDesign for Living: My 5 Fave Sofas
My 5 Fave Sofas...
My team and I are constantly sourcing for the perfect piece of furniture to suit a client's particular needs. It's not always the new and on trend piece that we're seeking and return to the tried and true time and again. In the case of sofas, our favorites include B & B Italia's Ray and Charles sofas, designed by Antonio Citterio for B & B Italia. The Ray, introduced in 2012 can be customized into various combinations of sofa, sectional or chaise. The Charles, also from Antonio Citterio was first produced in 2003 and has become a timeless classic. Because of the comfort, versatility and tailored designs, both fit perfectly into a contemporary or transitional environment - we've placed them in living rooms, dens and media rooms with great success.
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