2024. A New Year. A Reboot.

Greetings from the Caribbean!

Last year I felt I aged ten years in ten months. On a personal level, losing our mom was heartbreaking. She died three weeks after her diagnosis (and we were/are worried about our dad’s health). My foot surgery, strikes, stress, the sense that everything’s a dumpster fire, multiple wars and geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather, the normalization of fascist policies and politicians, the dearth of empathy, the viciousness of online discourse, Covid, racism, sexism, ageism, etc. etc. it’s all too much. Constant flight or fight is not healthy.

A few weeks before my mom died, she said she worries about me. That I worked too much and I needed to take time to have more fun. WHAT?!

I knew then that my mom was really sick. I mean, what Caribbean mom would say this? I told her so and she laughed. She also said she had no regrets as she had a wonderful life. My mom had a point on the fun thing but who can think about having more fun while the earth is burning (literally)?

I was apprehensive about this trip, my first time since the funeral. I’ve been in a weird space most of the year and thought being here would make things worse. Instead the opposite happened. It’s as if a fog has lifted. Being in the village where my family has lived for generations is healing and grounding. I appreciate being in my paternal grandparents’ garden, happy that their trees are bearing fruit again post Hurricane Irma. I spent a few days at The Cottage and was grateful that my great grandmother, grandmother, and mom held on their land.

Of course I don’t know what 2024 will bring. I do know that I can only control how I react to what life throws my way. Even if 2024 is another struggle year, it will still be a better year. I cannot have another year like 2023 and I refuse to. I’m usually a cynical optimist but last year I went hard in the paint for cynicism.

2024 is the year of the reboot (the good kind).

Moving forward I’m going to limit my time on social media. There are some great things about it but doom scrolling doesn’t do anything but raise our blood pressure.

I’m going to do my best to stop obsessing about things I have no control over. I will donate and volunteer.

There are wonderful things happening with some of my projects and I shouldn’t feel guilty about it. I’ve worked very hard to get to this point. I used to believe that being a broke creative person was somehow keeping it real. ahahaha. Nope. I’m entering my Rich Auntie Era. Being a Rich Auntie doesn’t necessarily mean one is rich. It’s more about a point of view, a way of life. That said, run me my coins! No, really.

Between my surgery and the strikes my budget took a hit. I want to take more day trips/weekend trips this year. Italy can be a chaotic country but one thing she does very well is having an accessible high-speed train system.

Losing a parent and facing your own mortality is no joke. I need to stop waiting for the perfect time/moment to do things. The perfect time is the present as tomorrow is not guaranteed.

I intend to pay more attention to the joy, wonder, and beauty of this world we live in. It still exists but I didn’t see, or seek, much of it in 2023. 2024 will be different. Last month I said to to my friends and family that 2024 will be a great year, even if it isn’t. I’m warning people now, I will be leaning hard into the woo-wooness, feminine energy, inspired vibes of my Caribbean background and Italian life. The American can do spirit is fantastic but balance is key. I going to embrace the upside of these different cultures instead of the negative ones. Let’s see how this works out. It might be the best thing ever or a complete disaster. Either way, I plan to enjoy the process.

Here’s to a new year!

Where To Go In Rome

I’m not surprised by how crowded Rome is these days even though we’re months away from the height of the high season. My friends who work in hospitality here tell me that hotels are booked solid until November (!) with August pretty available. More restaurants and cafes are staying open during August in the Historic Center now. However, I still don’t recommend Rome in August, especially if it’s your first trip. It’s too hot and the locals who don’t work in tourism/hospitality clear out. Did I mentioned how hot it is?

I’m receiving so many emails and DMs regarding where to go/what to do in Rome. I wrote a post where to eat HERE and where to drink HERE.

Below are my suggestions:

The Galleria Villa Borghese.  This is the museum I suggest people go to if they don't have time to visit the Vatican Museum (or even if they do).  It's small. There’s a two hour limit.  You have to make reservations and can do so online. The permanent collection is fantastic. It’s in a beautiful villa in one of Rome’s prettiest parks. I recommend spending time in Villa Borghese Park too.

Museum Palazzo Altemps - near Piazza Navona, unless a student group is on a field trip, this museum is rarely crowded. Tiny but interesting.  Wrote about it HERE. 

Outside of the Centro Storico is Montemartini. Very unique space. Wrote about it HERE. 

Another favourite (and often overlooked) museum is Galleria Doria Pamphilj - get the audio tour. It’s narrated by a member of the family.

Museo dell Ara Pacis - The exhibits change but the altar created for Augustus, 9 BC, is upstairs. The building, designed by architect Richard Meier, was quite controversial as it’s one of the few newish/modern buildings in that area and people said it looked like an air conditioning unit.

Capitolini Museum - One of the oldest museums in the world, you will find a lot of history and pieces from Ancient Rome. The views from Piazza del Campidoglio, and the cafe of the museums, are great. This is where City Hall is located.

There are over nine hundred churches in Rome, some favorites:

San Clemente  - it's worth the fee to go down to the ground level to see relics from when it was a pagan temple

Santa Maria del Popolo - the Caravaggios

Santa Maria in Trastevere  - the mosaics 

San Luigi dei Francesi - this is the French Catholic church in Rome. More Caravaggios

Santa Cecilia in Trastevere - located on the quieter side of Trastevere

Sant’ Agnese - in Piazza Navona

Santa Maria in Maggiore Basilica - that ceiling

Saint Peter's Basilica - note, there can be long security lines

San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane - this small church is a Borromini masterpiece and many people walk right by it

Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza - another Borromini masterpiece. Sometimes there are free concerts in the courtyard

Basilica Santa Anna Maria in Ara Coeli - located next to Piazza del Campidoglio (there are a lot of steps) this church is the church of Rome, Senatus Populusque Romanus. I went to a midnight Christmas Mass here and it was very moving.

Not a church but a cemetery. Cimitero Acattolico, also known as the Protestant Cemetery, is where many famous poets, artists, writers, etc., who were not Catholic and/or Italian are buried. The grounds are beautiful. Shelley himself said so and he was buried here after he drowned in the Bay of Lerici.

Of course:

The Trevi Fountain - gets crowded... go very early or late

Piazza Navona - the Bernini fountain!

Piazza Farnese - it’s very close to Pz Navona. Palazzo Farnese is the French Embassy and there are two pretty fountains in this piazza.

Views from the Giancolo HIll - The fountain is breathtaking too

Doria Pamphilj Park - Along with Villa Borghese, this is one of the largest parks in Rome

The Pantheon - get there early or before the cruise ship lines.  

The Colosseum/The Forum - It’s a good idea to get a guided tour, especially for the Forum

The Old Jewish Quarter - Second only to Venice, this is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Of the 1023 citizens deported to Auschwitz, only 16 survived. Keep an eye out for the Sampietrini stones covered with a brass plates with their names in front of their homes. This is where the infamous Turtle Fountain is located.

The View from the top of the Spanish Steps - on a clear day it’s quite pretty and I love the Bernini fountain at the bottom of the steps in Piazza di Spagna

Interesting neighborhoods outside the Centro Storico:

EUR - for the history and fascinating architecture. Read more HERE.

Garbatella -  read more HERE.

Walk along Via Appia Antica.  Car traffic is limited on Sundays to the few people who live on the Appia.  Read more HERE.

SHOPPING:
Check out the stores on Via Babuino (high end) and in Monti (mid-to high).  Both streets have clothing and design stores.

For design, Via Margutta has some great shops, like the store BLEND (which changed its name from Flair).

Chez Dede on Via Monserrato is wonderful and one of my favourite stores in Rome. The whole street is great for shopping. 

Many of the international luxury brands, Prada. Gucci, etc. are on Via Condotti and its side streets.

Art and Architecture with Ariella - Torino

Ciao Bloggisti,

This week is the first post from our new intern Ariella, who is studying abroad in Rome for the semester.  She's a student at Cornell University, with a double major in Fine Arts and Human Development.   Every other Wednesday we hope to have a post from Ariella. We're excited to hear her thoughts as she explores Rome and other parts of Italy. 

Take it away Ariella!

A couple weeks ago, I went with my classmates to Torino and had an amazing time! After a long bus ride, our first stop was Torino's National Museum of Cinema. 

The museum was exciting and the architecture was remarkable. It's located inside of Mole Antonelliana which is the monumental symbol of the City of Torino. Not only was it aesthetically pleasing, but it also stimulated many other senses with its acoustics and other interactive displays. The whole museum had weird loops around the building, ultimately confusing us.

Francois Confino was one of the main designers of the displays and the interior of the building. The museum has a very interesting background. Originally it was commissioned as a new synagogue after religious freedom was established. The architecture was started by Alessandro Antonelli and was later completed by his son Costanzo. The museum is set up in an idiosyncratic fashion.  Each floor seemed to have a cut out in the middle, leaving a large section of the building empty. This created an extremely tall ceiling from the bottom floor. Right in the center of the museum there was an elevator made of glass which took us up to the tallest building in Torino, offering an incredible panorama of the city. 

The floor of the elevator was made of glass and had striking views of the entire building. However, the ride up was not the best experience for those of us with a fear of heights.Looking back, I feel I did not spend enough time in the museum as it's something that could possibly take an entire day. The next day we walked around the city admiring the architecture, walking in and out of churches and buildings. At one point we realized there was a kind of 'exhibition' in the city.  Contemporary artists had pieces displayed throughout the city and there was a map of all of the pieces. We grabbed a map and started the trail. This trail took us to some beautiful piazzas and courtyards. One of the pieces was a large cube with a triangular pyramid on top which matched the design of the window almost exactly except it was enlarged. The cafes in Torino were also incredibly beautiful. It was obvious that they were built and designed long ago. The way the aesthetics have been maintained make them unique to Torino, similar to much of the architecture we saw.

Photos by Ariella.SaveSave

Work in Progress - My Foyer

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have lived with white walls for decades.  The last time I had any color on the walls was when my parents let me pick the color for my bedroom back in high school.During my apartment search, I knew I wanted a place with a foyer/ingresso. Even my super tiny apartment on Via Pellegrino had one.  Both of my apartments in Los Angeles, which were much larger, did not. Drove me nuts.  You opened the door and walked right into the living room.  Of course this is fine for a loft apartment but I didn't live in a loft.Many people neglect their foyer.  It becomes a place to dump keys, magazines, mail, etc., etc.  The foyer is the preview for the rest of your home.  It sets the atmosphere.  What does it say as you enter?Depending on the size of your foyer, it could provide much needed storage space, a place to display artwork, and in a smaller one you could splurge (creatively and/or financially) on your favorite wallpaper.Painting an entrance way a darker color than the next room makes the second room seem much larger. Interior designer Miles Redd  loves going from dark to light.   I decided to be bold for a change and go for it.  I went to the store Le Decorazioni to look at Farrow & Ball samples.I'm so happy with how the foyer turned out.  I'm relieved my landlady (who lives in the same building) loved it. I thought she might be offended since she'd just painted the apartment.  Instead she asked me to send me a link to the Farrow & Ball website.I was thinking of going with Hague Blue but in the end Stiffkey was best with the light grey in the living room.  Stiffkey looks great when the lights are on and in natural light it reminds me of late summer nights in Sicily or sitting on my parents' veranda at dusk in St. Martin.When I first saw the apartment the owner told me the bookcase/cabinet in the hallway had to stay. I understood why for practical reasons. The fact that it wasn't flush with the wall bothered me aesthetically.  What a difference some high-quality paint makes.   The painters and I couldn't believe how this big piece of furniture blends in a little more and looks more expensive than it is.I'm going to meet with my blacksmith to design a simple bench. Above the bench I will hang some black and white photographs.I don't know when that will happen.  I tell clients all the time that it's better to take our time while decorating.  Perhaps I should listen to my own advice.Photos:  Me and my iPhone     

Work In Progress - Caribbean Beach House - Bathroom Inspiration

A few weeks ago I went to Anguilla to check in on one of my projects.  The build is going very well.When I think of the mood for a beach house, the first thing that comes to mind is relaxation.I've been looking at books in my library and pulling images from the internet for inspiration.  The bathrooms don't have to be from a Caribbean beach house but must have some elements that would work in that environment.There are many decisions that have to be made. What kind of finishes? What color? If we use tile, what size?While this is a house in Anguilla, the style will not be British Colonial.  It's too formal for a beach house.  There will be touches (like a mahogany four-poster bed) of course but mixed with a contemporary spin on Caribbean design.Below are few spaces that caught my eye:This bathroom is from a home on the tiny Island of Mustique.  I love the natural feel of it.  We're already using poured cement for the kitchen counter tops. To use it again in the bathrooms might be too much.

Photo: Elle Decor

This large en-suite bathroom in a Sicilian villa has a stone sink.  Love the simplicity of the shower stall and the use of wooden stools.  This is a newish boutique hotel.  I must see Rocca delle Tra Contrade in person.  The photos are stunning.

Photo: Rocca delle Tre Contrade

I'm not a fan of shower caddies.

Our clients for the Tuscany project were very clear that they wanted built-in spaces for shampoo, soap, etc.   If it's early enough in the build/renovation, I recommend going in this direction.  Just make sure there's a slight slope, so water doesn't pool in the space.

A partial wall works for this project.  It never gets cold.

Photo: Elements Of Style

Getting away from the neutrals for a minute, this bathroom from the La Banane hotel on St. Barths is very bright and colorful.

A fun design like this might be a great idea for one of the smaller bathrooms.  Or the powder room.  In a large space this color and pattern would be not be relaxing to me.

Photo: Villa La Banane

Brass fixtures are having a moment.  I like them in this bathroom.  I look at all this tile and worry about cleaning the grout.

Photo: Habitually Chic

I LOVE outdoor showers.  The ones at Cap Juluca in Anguilla are fantastic.

Photo: Cap Juluca

A more traditional style at Oscar de la Renta's former home in the Dominican Republic.

A shower in Marrakesh.  Fantastic built-in bench.

Photos: Mark D Sikes

I don't know where this house is but I like the contrast of the stone-tiled floor with the black contemporary trim on the windows and with the lines of the tub.

Photo: Pinterest

Stylish Simplicity - Allaire Desk Fan - Restoration Hardware

I saw a very cool old-school fan when I stayed at the lovely Baur B&B in Piemonte.I don't know where they bought it, but I finally found something similar.Restoration Hardware's brushed nickel Allaire desk fan is gorgeous.It's functional, simple, and stylish.   Plus, it would work with a variety of interiors, modern, rustic, contemporary, etc.Speaking of fans, I've been running mine pretty much non-stop for the past week.  I cannot wait until fall.  Seriously.   

Snapshots - Ostia Antica, Italy

Ostia Antica, the ancient port city founded in 620 BC, is a place I've wanted to visit for a long time.So when I heard that Save Rome and Moscerina were organizing an Instagram meet up, I signed up right away.It was fantastic.  We were very lucky to have archeologist Dr. Arya show us the sights.   If you have any interest in Ancient Rome, Ostia Antica is a must see.Here are a few of my snapshots.

Weekend Inspiration - Get Lucky

No one really knows what makes a song THE song of the summer.Is it the timing, the melody, the lyrics, sheer luck, or a combination of all these things?One thing we know for sure is you cannot create "the song of the summer." It just happens.Pop culture, especially music, is so fragmented.  The song of the summer cuts across genre lines.This year's song of the summer, is Daft Punk's "Get Lucky."The first time I heard this track it made me feel all the feelings.It's contemporary mixed with a disco-vibe.  It sounded a little like a classic from the band CHIC.  I was not surprised to read that the very talented Nile Rogers was one of the producers.Pharell is also a producer on the song.  What a summer he's having.  Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" (with a Marvin Gaye sample) is also a monster summer hit.I've just arrived in Salina and have heard this song all over the island.  When I hear it in the future it will always remind me of Summer 2013 on a beautiful Italian island.Here is the male model version from the CFDA's.  Unfortunately, it's not a walk off.  I would like to see a gentleman wear an outfit from Thom Browne's Amish/Hasidic collection off the runway, including the hat.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-22tSs8BP0&w=560&h=315]Someone did a '70s Soul Train line mash up. The dude at 0:31 is too cool for school.  Love it. The fashion is amazing.  Some of these dresses you could wear now.If this doesn't make you move, call your doctor, you might be dead.Buon weekend a tutti![youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeEQDtk63H4&w=420&h=315]

Thinking About Walk-In Closets During Cambio Di Stagione.

Me:  "What are you doing this weekend?"Friend: "Cambio di Stagione."Yes, it's that time of year... we have to swap out our Winter clothes for our Spring/Summer clothes.My friends in Italy who are fortunate to have enough closet space to avoid under-the-bed boxes, still do Cambio di Stagione.  Clothes that need to be dry-cleaned are dropped off.  Boots and other other Winter shoes are taken to the cobbler.My closet is tiny.  I guess one benefit is even if I could afford to buy the clothes I want, I would have no place to put them.As I get ready to Cambio di Stagione, I dream about more closet space.

Photo: ELLE DECOR

Photo: Architectural Digest

Photo: Jodi Foster

Work In Progress - Country House - Tuscany, Italy

I was recently hired by the very talented architect Domenico Minchilli to work on the interiors for a home in the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy.Words cannot adequately express how excited I am about this project.We have a mid/late Spring deadline.Early on, I started to pull images for an inspiration board on Pinterest. Some of the images came from books in my library, photos from my travels, or from my favorite websites. Originally, I had over sixty-five images. It was a great visual tool and helped me see the big picture. I kept that version of the board private so I could show Domenico what I was thinking.Once I had a clearer idea of what the client wanted/needed for their home, I put together a mood board in Photoshop for each room. There has to be a separate post about Photoshop... DRAMA.I had written a much longer post but deleted it. It was way too sappy.However, I will say I'm thrilled to be working with such an incredible group of people and that 2013 is off to a great start.