Stylish Simplicity - Peperoncini (Tiny Peppers)
My friend Taiye finally had a break during her international book tour and was making lunch at her place. I wanted to pick up some flowers.I went to my flower stand in Campo dei Fiori but none of the flowers I had in mind were in season.Instead, I decided to go with some peperoncini.
So simple, including the presentation.I love the burst of color they bring to a room on a cold fall day. I plan to pick up some red ones later in the week.If you haven't read Taiye's critically acclaimed book, Ghana Must Go (La Bellezza Delle Cose Fragili in Italian), get thee to a bookstore or online. It's fantastic.
Life In Rome - Interview And Photo Shoot with Gina Gomez
I do not like having my photo taken. Correction, I'm game when I'm in a group shot.It's not just because the camera adds ten to fifteen pounds. It's because I feel like a big dork standing there while the photographer snaps.Thanks to social media, I had to get over my discomfort. That said, I still get salty when unflattering photos are tagged on Facebook. What the what? Does the tagger need new glasses? Good friends don't let folks tag bad photos.Gina wanted to take a few head shots during our terrace photo shoot. I was sweaty and wiped out. So even though Gina is a talented photographer I thought, "no good can come of this."She convinced me to at least try a few. I did and this is what happened:
I did a brief interview with Gina and she has posted more photos from the shoot on her blog.To see more of Gina's gorgeous work, please visit her website here.
Life In Rome - An EUR Walk
Last Sunday, my friends Erica and Darius decided to take advantage of the great weather and organized a quick walk through EUR.I still have problems pronouncing the area's name correctly. The second time I visited Rome, a friend from L.A. was in town. She asked her lover (they met the year before) if he could show us around EUR.L.A. Friend: Marco, can you drive us to E.U.R.? (spelling it out in English)Marco: Dove? (Where?)LAF: E.U.R.Marco: Non capisco.LAF: Big buildings, Mussolini.Marco: Oh, AY-oor. Certo. That was a fun afternoon as my friend spoke no Italian and Marco spoke several languages but none of them were English. However, they spoke the universal language of love lust, so it was all good.On Sunday, I met up with the rest of the Twitter folks (aka Tweeps). One of Darius and Erica's friends was born in the area and still lives there. He knows the area well and it was fascinating to hear his point of view.If you have any interest in architecture or 20th century Roman history, EUR is definitely worth a visit. It's a very unique neighborhood.Here are a few snapshots from Sunday.
Photos From My Trastevere Terrace Project
My client travels frequently overseas for work but, like most of the native Romans I know, he enjoys hosting aperitivi and dinner parties when he's in town.He saw the work I did for another client and asked me to take a look at his terrace.We wanted to make the space flow better, redo the landscaping, and buy new furniture to add to some of the pieces he already owned.I think it's important for the outdoor areas and indoor areas to be cohesive. I kept my client's interior spaces in mind as I looked for furniture. My landscaper and I had a long conversation regarding which plants would work best for the terrace.I wrote about photographer Gina Gomez (aka Warm Pears) on my former blog three years ago. Earlier this year, we discussed collaborating on something.The terrace was that perfect something.Below are a few pictures from the shoot.
Resources:Furniture: UNOPIU'Lantern: FlamantCenterpiece: Bloemen Florist - Via Terenzio, 37 (zona Prati), Rome, +39 06 6892901
My Fall/Winter 2013 Wish List
I know there is a huge difference between want and need. Many times I catch myself making statements such as, "that skirt needs to be in my closet."Hello, no it doesn't. I would like it to be there. That is a want.I have written before about my lack of clothes for cold weather. Now that I no longer spend the majority of my working hours in my house writing scripts, I really need to step up my fall/winter wardrobe. I cannot meet with clients or vendors looking bananas.Thank god I live in a city that is not as casual as Los Angeles. If I wear a dress or a skirt to a meeting in Rome, nobody asks me why am I so dressed up. Sometimes, wait for it, I even wear thigh-high stockings!There are many things I would like to purchase this year but have narrowed down the list to five.Long leather gloves. I'm thinking black or chocolate brown. Why does Olivia Pope look so sad here?
Photo: ABC/Danny Feld
Ankle boots with heels that can handle cobblestone streets.
I have a pair of ankle boots with a narrow heel. They have been destroyed. RIP.
A LBD.
Love the cut of this dress from J. Crew.
A camel hair coat.
i do need a new winter cloth coat but I think I can get another season out of my current one. This will go in the want column. Max Mara's coats are classic.
Photo: People
Last but not least, I do need a short winter sports jacket. I look like the Michelin Tire Man in puffy jackets. I like the lines of this one.
What's on your list?
Life In Rome - Il Rientro
I’m still not used to the rientro effect, even after five summers here. It’s as if a giant light switch was turned on and BAM, the locals have returned.
There is traffic again on Lungotevere and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The woman who owns my local newsstand is very tan, relaxed, and tells us all about her vacation.
I’m excited that my butcher and my favorite baker at the Trionfale farmers’ market are back. I’ve missed them.
There’s an electric energy in the air despite the fact that our government could collapse (again) at any moment.
Suddenly, my phone is ringing off the hook with vendors letting me know when furniture will be delivered, appointments to see clients, and friends wanting to meet up for post-rientro aperitivi.
I'm glad the rientro has begun.
August In Rome
All over my neighborhood are signs like this:
Before I was on Hollywood's schedule, so August was a busy time for me. While all my friends and neighbors fled the August heat and tourists, I stayed behind in Rome writing and pitching TV projects.Now I'm on a local schedule and it's a trip. Last week I was running around town making sure to touch base with my vendors before they closed up shop for the month.There will be NO furniture deliveries in August.September will be out of control. Everything is being pushed to that month.In the meantime, I'm going to use this period to catch up on office paperwork. I also need to find more space in my tiny apartment for all the new books I have. I'm literally running out of room.One friend (who just left town for the rest of the month) suggested I see a few movies. Then we started laughing because most of the movie theaters are closed too.
Weekend Inspiration - Genesis - Sebastião Salgado - Rome, Italy
Sebastião Salgado is one of my favorite photographers.His show, GENESIS, is at the Ara Pacis until September 15th.
Photo: Taschen
It's a large exhibit filled with staggering beauty. At times I was overwhelmed. There was a lot to take in.Salgado spent eight years traveling to thirty-two different locations to photograph people, places, and animals that have had little or no exposure to modern society. It's about how they relate to the earth.I will be thinking about this exhibit for a long time.Buon weekend!
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.
Work In Progress - Trastevere - Rome, Italy
Great news here at AGD.The house in Tuscany is almost done and I've signed two new clients.For one project, I'm helping my client redo his terrace.The other project also includes working on a terrace and collaborating with my client to furnish her new apartment.Both apartments are in Trastevere.One thing I love about this type of work is that each project is unique. My other Rome project is understated glamour.The apartment I'm working on in Trastevere is contemporary with a very streamlined palette, white, black, gray, and some pops of red. A few pieces came with the apartment and most of the additional furniture will be custom-made.My client would like a home that is minimal, light, and yet cozy. Minimal decors can be cold so I'm all about texture and natural materials.I have an inspiration board for the apartment on PInterest.For the terrace project, we are going to redo the plants, buy new furniture, and make the space flow better. My client entertains often and it's important that his guests feel comfortable.My landscaper is amazing and I cannot wait to see how the terrace will look once the plants grow in a little.I real enjoy working with my clients. I know this something not every decorator can say!
Weekend Inspiration - Tiziano
Another super hectic week.I had all these great ideas for blog posts and how many did I end up writing? None. This is an issue. I cannot turn this blog into "The Weekend Inspiration Blog."I feel the need to go to a quiet place and think for a minute. I know just the spot.
I saw quite a bit of Tiziano when I went to Venice a few years ago and the Scuderie is one of my favorite exhibitions spaces in Rome.This show runs until June 16th. For information about times and tickets, HERE is the website.Buon weekend!
Weekend Inspiration - Rome's Roseto Comunale
On Thursday morning I decided during my jog, at the last minute, to pass by the garden to see if it was opened yet.
It was.
If you plan to be in Rome any time before June 16th, I highly recommend a visit to the Roseto Comunale/Municipal Rose Garden.
The hours are 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. It's located right across the street from Circo Massimo. There is only a six week window to enjoy these stunning flowers from all over the world.
Buon Weekend!
Weekend Inspiration - Fountain - Villa Borghese Park, Rome
It's a Ponte Weekend in Italy.While most of my friends are out of town, I'm using this weekend to catch up on work and to get organized for next month.I would love to spend some time in the country this weekend. Instead, I will go to the park.
One of my favorite parks is Villa Borghese. If you are visiting Rome, it's a great place to go for some peace and quiet.Buon weekend a tutti!
Weekend Inspiration - Helmut Newton Exhibit At Palazzo delle Esposizioni
Last week my friend Courtney and I went to see the new Helmut Newton exhibit at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni.There are two hundred photos covering three legendary books by Newton. This blockbuster show runs until July 21st.Newton forever changed fashion photography and is considered one of the most influential photographers of the modern era. Many copy his style, but few have his talent.It was incredible to see all these iconic photographs in person. This one was shot for VOGUE in 1975.
Photo: Vogue.com
My friend and I left the show very inspired. Newton was passionate about life and his work. He was shooting until the day he died at age 84.His first book of photography wasn't published until he was 56 years old. By Hollywood standards that's close to 100.I've worked for years in culture that was/is obsessed with age and making it. I had friends in L.A. who started getting Botox in their 20's and I'm not talking only about actresses.It's hard to be in that world and not lose your sanity. Once I moved to Rome, it was a little easier. However, there were times I still woke up in the middle of the night in a panic because I haven't "made it" yet and time is running out. I thought, "I'm done. It's a wrap."Last week I walked out of that exhibit thinking,"later for that nonsense, I'm just getting started."Buon weekend!
Weekend Inspiration - Let There Be Light - A Family Room Designed by Peter Dunham
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?
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!
Weekend Inspiration - A View From Positano.
Seven years ago I traveled to Rome for the second time.The first time was a revelation and I fell hard for this crazy city. It didn't make sense. Nobody in my family is Italian and I was not an Italophile by any stretch.I loved London, Paris, and Amsterdam. When I was in junior high and high school I just KNEW I would live in Paris or London one day. I wasn't thinking about Rome or Italy despite living in a town called Verona .I thought maybe I had responded to Rome that way because of what was, or wasn't, going on in my life at that moment. I had to find out why that one trip had unsettled me so much.I returned the following year and took a short trip to Florence and Positano.
It was a pain in the butt to get from Rome to Positano. First the train to Naples (not bad), then the train to Sorrento (an hour on a local train with many stops), and then finally a bus to Positano.
I walked down the steep hill, followed by a million steps, to reach my hotel. Once I stepped into the room and opened the large French doors, I saw that view. My heart skipped a beat. It was so beautiful it felt unreal, like a movie set.
There is a great hiking trail/path way up in the mountains, Sentiero degli Dei/Path of the Gods. Early one morning, I went up the mountain.
It was quiet. I saw two German tourists hiking and that was it. For the first time in years, my mind wasn't racing a mile a minute, overwhelmed by the things I had not accomplished.
That walk changed everything.
I realized I had to make some serious changes in my life for my mental and physical health. I wasn't sure how at that time.
Eventually, I figured it out and moved to Italy two years later.
Buon weekend!
Weekend Inspiration - The Mix - Modern Meets The 16th Century.
In December, I attended the AWAR holiday cocktail party at Palazzo Farnese. The construction of the Palazzo started in 1515 and it has been the home of the French Embassy since 1874.I've been inside the building before to vote (I have dual citizenship, American and French) and went to an exhibit they held a few years ago. However, this time there was a tour from the Ambassador himself.I had a blast that night with my friend Gillian. AWAR raised money for charity, we saw amazing art and architecture, and we had a chance to drink Champagne.One of the highlights for me was walking into various rooms by myself to study the interiors. I'm still shocked they let us take pictures (a big no-no at the American Embassy. You have to turn in your cellphones and cameras at security)."The Mix" is important. It's also difficult to do well. A room with furnishings from a mix of eras gives off a different energy than a room where every single piece of furniture, all the vignettes, art, etc. etc. are from the exact same time period and/or store. When the mix is on point, it's so exciting.
I was surprised when I stepped into this room and saw the modern iron table and chairs.I think a traditional table from that period with very ornate detailing and decked out with ivory would've been too much.Instead this table compliments the room. You really notice the drop dead gorgeous proportions, the floors, the walls, everything. Most conference rooms are zzzzzzzz. This one is a stunner.Buon weekend and cin cin to mixing it up.
My Word For 2013... Si
A few days ago I met my friend Annie for a coffee. She was super busy this year and we were finally able to get together and catch up during her low season.I told Annie how since September I've spoken more Italian than in the previous three years. I was joking when I said my "word" for 2013 should be "Si". Then we thought about it and realized it's a perfect word.When I mentioned this to another friend, she said, "Uhm, hello, wasn't your word last year, 'yes'?"It was. However, "si" is different.Until recently, I was living in an English speaking bubble. I do have Italian friends (all speak several languages), but I worked only in English. I'm not married to an Italian and I had no reason to speak it everyday, which is bizarre given I live in Italy!Now that I'm suddenly working in Italy, everything has changed. My getting-by-Italian is fine for dinner parties and ordering food in restaurants. It's a problem when I have to order meters of fabric for custom drapes and sofas. It's important that I'm clear and able to communicate with the artisans I'm working with.Already, I feel a whole new world is opening up to me because my language skills have improved. I dream in Italian sometimes. In one of those dreams Idris Elba was also speaking Italian but I digress.As I explained in my post last year, I tend to over think things. In 2012, I said "yes" a lot more often and took some financial risks (going to the Salone, buying Photoshop, etc.) It wasn't easy to step out of my comfort zone but I'm glad I did. 2012, on a personal and professional level, was a much better year than 2011.I'm excited about 2013 and hope that the momentum from the last few months carries over.
Stylish Simplicity - Hunter Wellington Boots
Rainy season will start soon in Rome.I know Hunter Wellies have become crazy popular recently. However, unlike some other trends, this one is a classic. Hunter's boots are not just fashionable, they are well made.This Scottish based company has been making boots since 1856. While I don't own a country estate in the UK, I do need boots that can stand up to the torrential downpours we get here.I'm not sure which color to get. I love their Stylish Simplicity.
Work In Progress - Prati Apartment - Rome, Italy
Last week I was hired to decorate an apartment in Rome.This is my first project in Italy. I'm excited but also a little terrified. Now I must speak and work in Italian. While many vendors speak English, there are quite a few people I'm working with on this apartment, like the contractor, who do not.I need get over my fear of communicating in Italian and just do it.The décor is going to be understated Hollywood Regency based on our consultation and the pieces my client already owns. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it just means that some of the over the top elements of the style will be toned down. Sometimes, one can have too many mirrored surfaces!The bones of this large apartment are absolutely stunning, as is the terrace. The layout is more formal than the other projects I'm working on.I tend to use strong colors as accents, not on the walls, so some of the rooms will push me out of my comfort zone which is a good thing. After all, it's not my apartment, it's the client's. I want my client to have a home that they love and that reflects their personality.Due the nature of my client's work, I won't be able to publish photos of their apartment.However, I have started an inspiration board, which is HERE.