No words are needed explain why this new hotel in Sicily is inspiring.
For more pictures of this stunning place, please click on their website HERE:
Buon weekend!
(I’m going to dream about the bedrooms. I know it.)
I don’t even drink coffee or have an espresso maker, yet I would love to own these cups. Stylish, simple, elegant… I adore them
Designed for Alessi by Massimiliano and Doriana Mandrelli Fuksas
Photo: Amazon.uk
Speaking of Fuksas, the world renowned architects recently renovated the flagship Benetton store in Rome. I haven’t stepped into a Benetton since college but I’m very curious about this building.
The design and fashion blogosphere is buzzing this week about the debut of DOMAINE Magazine.
This online publication was created by the same women, Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr, behind another favorite, WHO, WHAT, WHERE.
Sara Ruffin Costello’s, former creative director at DOMINO, living room.
This site is fantastic. There are articles about home décor, fashion, and yes, even recipes (bacon mac and cheese).
Plus, it’s interactive. You can leave comments. Love it.
I enjoyed the article about interior designers Jeffrey Alan Marks and Ross Cassidy. I’ve never met Jeffrey but Ross is a sweetheart. I’m not saying that just because he complimented my skirt in L.A. last year. Ross was very kind to pose in his red pants so I could Tweet the photo to my friend, Erica, a noted Red Pants Pathologist.
Looking forward to checking out the rest of DOMAINE.
Buon Weekend!
It’s time to hit the courts.
There are a lot of things I enjoy about playing tennis. It’s fun, it’s outdoors, it’s a sport you can play for life, and the clothes.
I’m dead serious. From a very young age, I’ve LOVED tennis outfits. I like to keep my clothes simple, no lace or crazy patterns. I’m there to play a sport not to go clubbing.
Below are some of my favorite old school photos. It’s interesting, you could wear any of these clothes now (perhaps not the headbands) and they would look contemporary even though they are from the 70′s and the 80′s. Classic.
Hubbell! “The Way We Were” 1973
The late great Arthur Ashe.
Carrie Fisher in “Shampoo” 1975
Frenchman, Yannick Noah. Big crush on him back in the early ’80s.
Bjorn Borg, from Sweden, my other big crush.
Steffi Graf, in the 80′s.
John McEnroe in ’79 looking salty. As usual.
Photo: Guardian UK
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Good friends off the courts but had one of the best sports rivalries in history.
Photo: World In Sport.com
Other photos: Google
FINALLY!
Winter is gone. Over the weekend we had highs in the low 70′s/20′s. It was glorious.
This morning I jogged past my favorite flower stand and I was compelled by this amazing weather to buy some tulips.
I think they would look perfect in this vase.
Pera Vase
Photo: Crate&Barrel
The lines of this vase are simple yet elegant. Crate & Barrel proves once again that great design doesn’t have to be expensive.
A new Pope was elected this week. We still don’t have a Prime Minister. It’s kind of nuts but I digress.
The determined sun fought its way through today’s stubborn clouds and after a week of horrendous weather, we finally had a few hours of sunshine. The angels sang.
Perhaps it’s a little early for Spring cleaning (the horrible weather is scheduled to return on Sunday afternoon) but I would like to get started on some projects this weekend.
Thoughts of Spring brought me to the photo below.
How lovely is this space designed by L.A. based, British born, Peter Dunham?
A Beverly Hills Family Room Designed by Peter Dunham
Photo: Architectural Digest
We had a chance to visit Peter’s showroom during Kathryn M. Ireland’s Design Bootcamp. His showroom was filled with beautiful things and Peter was very charming.
I think those chairs need to be in my home.
Buon Weekend!
I saw this short clip about Jenna Lyons and her shoe collection and had to write about it.
Jenna is the President and Executive Creative Director of J.Crew. She has been with the company for twenty years.
Her aesthetic is deeply embedded in the company’s DNA.
They do take fashion risks but haven’t forgotten their core customers who love J. Crew for its cool take on classic style. It’s the only American store where I can find jeans that fit my body. J.Crew does have killer sales, which is great for some of their pricier items.
In the film, Jenna briefly explains how their shoes evolve from a drawing to the store. The shoes are hand-made in Italy.
Yes, you could buy knock-offs of these shoes at Zara for a fraction of the cost.
While the CEO of Zara is worth 57 BILLION (the third richest man in the world) how much does Zara pay the people who make their shoes? How long would the shoes last?
I doubt they are paid anything close to what the workers in Pisa, Italy are making for J. Crew. The manufacturing sector in Italy, along with other Western countries, is facing serious challenges in a global economy.
However, one advantage Italy has is her artisans. There’s a reason why companies from all over world chose to have certain items, like shoes, made in Italy.
Fast fashion is here to stay, but I’m glad there are companies like J. Crew who care about quality and profits.
What a week.
Just when you think Italian politics couldn’t be more confusing or bizarre, they are. I have no idea what is going to happen now. Maybe we’ll have new elections.
The Pope said good-bye yesterday. The city is packed with tourists who came to see him for the last time. Cardinals are flying in for the conclave and there are journalists in town from all over the world.
Work-wise, things were hectic. I’m not sure how it’s Friday already.
Yesterday, Domenico and I drove up to Tuscany to visit the job site and to meet with our client who flew in from Germany. Normally, we would stay overnight but we decided to make it a day trip and left Rome at 6:30 a.m.
It was a very long day. At one point my brain said, “BASTA!” and refused to cooperate. It was around the time I was asking the contractor questions in Italian and then translating his answers into English.
On the drive back home, all I could think about was taking a long shower, getting in my PJs, and then watching Law and Order SVU reruns on Fox Crime (I have a thing for Detective Stabler).
I wish I had a shower like this:
Unfortunately, I do not.
The shower in the photo was designed by Ilaria Miani for Monteverdi. Monteverdi is a group of rental villas and a hotel in the small village of Castiglioncello del Trinoro in Tuscany.
Stunning. I hope to check it out sometime later this year.
In the meantime, Stabler and I will be relaxing this weekend.
Buon Weekend!
In 2011 the Italian fashion label Miu Miu started Women’s Tales, a series of short films about women directed by female directors from all over the world.
Their most recent short was directed by Ava DuVernay. Ava won the best director award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Here is more information about Ava’s short from Miu Miu:
The Door, by Ava DuVernay, the fifth Miu Miu Women’s Tale, is a celebration of the transformative power of feminine bonds, and a symbolic story of life change. The symbolic centre of The Door is the front entrance of the protagonist’s home. As she opens it to greet a friend in the powerfully framed opening scenes, she is shrouded in an oblique sadness. “In the film, characters arrive at the door of a friend in need, bringing something of themselves,” explains director DuVernay. “Eventually, we witness our heroine ready to walk through the door on her own. The door in the film represents a pathway to who we are.” Clothing is also a symbol of renewal, each change of costume charting our heroine’s emergence from a chrysalis of sadness. In the final scenes, she takes off her ring, pulls on long, black leather gloves, and walks, transformed by the emotive power of the clothing, through the door.
Not a word was spoken, but Ava told a beautiful story. For some reason, I didn’t recognize Gabrielle Union at first!
The Door combines three things I’m passionate about, dècor, film, and fashion. Several of the pieces in the short need to be in my closet and hello, that house!
I’ve seen many films with “a glass house in L.A.” set design but this one really captured that L.A. loneliness vibe. I loved it.
People ask me all the time what is the difference between a mood board, an inspiration board, or a presentation board.
The terms are used interchangeably, but a presentation board is the one that you would show to a client.
A mood/inspiration board might be used only in house as you brainstorm design ideas. The presentation board shows the client the actual materials/furniture you plan to buy for the space.
I prefer to do these boards the old-fashioned way (I like to touch and feel everything) but with clients who live overseas or travel a lot, a digital board is the way to go.
I finally bit the bullet and bought Photoshop. Of course I was on a killer deadline for a project and had to turn around my boards pretty quickly.
Did I mention that I had never used Photoshop before? It was straight up drama trying to get these boards done. Fortunately, I have talented friends like Nicolee Drake who are also patient teachers.
Mood boards are very popular with interior designers, fashion designers, and graphic artists.
I love what interior designer Nathan Turner says about the Picasso inspiration in the short clip below. It’s for Pottery Barn and Nathan breaks down the process in a way that’s fun and accessible.
If you’re in L.A. check out his store on Melrose. It’s filled with beautiful things.
I hope you have an inspiring weekend.
