Weekend Insipiration - Have A Seat - Viceroy Hotel - Anguilla, British West Indies

How funky are these chairs?I am a big fan of Kelly Wearstler's commercial work, yet the Viceroy in Anguilla took me by surprise.A few years ago I met clients for a drink at the bar.  At first, when I walked in, the décor seemed so "uncaribbean" to me.Then I walked around.  It IS very Caribbean.  Wearstler's use of natural materials, her color palette, and the subtle nod to more tradition Caribbean design makes the Viceroy one my favorite hotel spaces.This hotel is huge and could easily feel very corporate (thinking of a certain hotel on the Dutch side of St. Maarten that ruined one of the best beaches on the island).Instead it's unique and jaw dropping gorgeous.Not a bad place to meet for drinks, especially with a locals' discount.I have more meetings this weekend about my Caribbean project.Feeling very inspiredBuon weekend!  

The Tuscany Project

Last year I wrote about the vacation home in Tuscany I'm working on with architect Domenico Minchili.Our clients had some photos taken and below are a few of them.First, a before shot of the living room.After.The room is so much lighter.  The new "old" floors make a huge difference as does the paint color.  I was consumed for days regarding which shade of Farrow & Ball white was the best white for the  walls.  We decided to use Skimming Stone.The chairs were custom made by Tondini & Radicchi. So were all the draperies in the house.One of the bedrooms mid-renovation.After.A bathroom before.After.Wider shot of the living room.  The sofas, coffee table, and sconces are custom.The studio.This room receives little natural light.  Many people assume that a small dark room must be painted a very light color in order to make it look bigger.  Not true.  It seems counter-intuitive but going darker gives a small room more depth.One of my Italian friends called this décor, "Relaxed Chic."   Another friend said it was "Casual Luxury."  Both work for me.Every bedroom, and its bathroom is unique, yet the entire home is cohesive.The paint is from Farrow & Ball.Most of the new furniture was custom made.  We also sourced pieces from Flamant, Barthel, and small shops in Rome and Tuscany.Our fabric sources were, Dedar, Ralph Lauren Home, Kathryn M. Ireland, and Pierre Frey.If you would like to know the specific colors or more information about the fabric or furniture, please feel free to ask me in the comments section.This property is available for vacation rental.  It's in the heart of the Chianti region surrounded by vineyards.  The views are stupendous.For more information (and some exterior photos), please visit the luxury rental  Abercrombie & Kent website.Photos by: Mario FloresSave

Io Adoro - Portrait Firenze - A New Hotel in Florence, Italy

Before my first trip to Italy, nine years ago, I had to cut my vacation short.  The production company I worked for decided to shut down, permanently, two weeks before Christmas.  Happy Holidays everyone!I was going to scrap the entire trip but my family was very worried about my mental state and insisted I go.I decided to travel to only one city for just one week.  I narrowed down my choices to Rome or Florence.  One of my good friends in L.A. is a hardcore Italophile.  She proclaimed that I was a Rome person and should save Florence for another trip.I've been to Florence twice. The art is stupendous and the city is beautiful.  Yet each time I felt anxious and couldn't wait to return to Rome.  It's not as if Rome is a laid back place.  However, Florence is a much smaller city and cannot handle the hordes of tourists and study aboard students.Well, I need to get over it because I must see the new Portrait Firenze.  The architect/interior designer is Michele Bonan.  I've written about how much I LOVE his work, especially, the newish J.K. Place in Rome.The hotel is owned by the Ferragamo family (the Lungarno Collection) and is located in the heart of the Historic Center. It has only thirty-six rooms and killer views of the Ponte Vecchio. It's scheduled to open this spring.Look at that view.  Love the soft relaxing colors.  Those green lamps?  Must track down.Sigh. No words.I need to be here with my man, enjoying the Franciacorta.Pocket doors. Dark wood.  Look at that ceiling.

Photos: Lungarno Collection

Stylish Simplicity - Ziti Rigati Con Pomodori/Ziti Rigati With Tomatoes

This Thanksgiving I went to Sicily.  It was my first trip to the main island and I stayed at the incredible Monaci delle Terre Nere.On my last day, I had this for lunch.When you have a dish with so few ingredients, they better be of the freshest and highest quality ingredients.  There are no sauces or foam to mask bad food.While this dish was simple, the flavors were not.  The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the tomatoes had that killer combo of acidity and sweetness that you cannot find in out of season tomatoes at a mega supermarket.We eat with our eyes as well.  I really appreciated the presentation.  It's Stylish Simplicity.

Weekend Inspiration - J.K. Place Hotel - Rome

This week, LONNY wrote about the new J.K. Place Hotel.   Believe the hype.   It's gorgeous.Months ago, one of my vendors told me I had to see the chartreuse DEDAR fabric architect/interior designer Michele Bonan used in the cafe. I finally had a chance to see it when my friend Erica and I went to meet a colleague of hers and his wife who were staying at the hotel.I told Erica we must add J.K. to our list.  We are very hard on places when it comes to cocktails. It's not enough to have an excellent bartender, the décor must be on point.Erica's colleague showed us their room.  I almost cried when I saw the bathroom.   This one is a little larger.  Look at that shower.  The floors.  The marble.  Sigh.Bonan is one of my favorite designers and what he did with the space is stunning.   The building used to be the architecture school for La Sapienza (the largest university in Rome).Inspired by Tom Ford's film, A SINGLE MAN, the atmosphere is what folks back in the States call "grown and sexy."It's a very unique space in Rome and I think the bar/lobby will appeal to people who are, well, grown and sexy.  I don't see Flip-Flop Girls™ hanging out here.  Grazie dio!I could spend hours in the library.For more pictures of J.K. Place Roma, you can click on their gallery HERE.Photos: J.K. Place Roma

Guest Blogging at Browsing Italy about Salina, Sicily

The lovely Diana asked me if I could write about my trip to the island of Salina for her "Show and Tell" series on her blog Browsing Italy.My post is HERE.I had a great time in Salina.  The minute the ferry pulled into Salina's port, I forgot about the long journey to get there.   It's a beautiful island.Thanks, Diana!    

Castello Di Fumone - Design Inspiration, An Imprisoned Pope, and Drowned Non Virgins.

Over the summer my friend Annie invited me to spend the weekend at her in-laws.  They live in Fiuggi.  It's only an hour south of Rome but at least a good ten degrees cooler.I happened to visit during Fiuggi's sagra.  It was outstanding.  When a large group of people started to do the Electric Slide, I fell out.  Seriously.  Here I was in a small hill town in the middle of Italy (I saw only one other black person there) and folks were doing this:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w2Anvecs6s&w=560&h=315] Another highlight of my weekend was our trip to Castello di Fumone, (aka Castello di Longhi).  The tour (in Italian) was very interesting.The castle was built sometime between 244 - 455.   The name means "Big Smoke."  The area was very strategic given its high elevation.  Large smoke signals were released to warn towns and cities as far away as Rome about invaders.In 1584 Pope Sixtus V asked the noble Longhi family to take over the upkeep of the castle.  It had fallen on difficult times.  They did and brought it back to life.   Members of the family still live in the castle.Castello di Fumone has one of the largest roof gardens in Europe and the views are spectacular.There were many design elements for me to savor.  Annie probably got sick of me not keeping up with the group because I was too busy taking photos.How gorgeous is this decorative wall painting? It represents the Longhi family's crest and colors.  I could see a very cool wallpaper inspired by it. You know one of the buyers at Restoration Hardware has a photo of this chair on an inspiration board.Castello di Fumone was in the news after Pope Benedict abdicated his papacy.   He was the first pope to do so in seven hundred years and only the second pope to abdicate.The first pope to resign was Pope Celestine V.    He was captured and locked up in a tiny cell in the castle by his predecessor.  He died ten months later at age eighty-six.Annie and I could barely fit into the cell.  I pictured this old man sleeping on cold stone floors.   I guess his fate was better than the man who was buried alive in the castle walls.Thanks to my excessive photo taking, I miss part of the tour in the archives room.  It was for the best.  Annie filled me in later.In the 1800s Marquise Emilia Caetani Longhi had seven daughters.  She and her husband then had a son, Francesco.  His sisters, worried that they would be cut out of their inheritance (everything would go to the male heir), slowly poisoned him to death.  Nobody knew how he died until years later when one of the sisters confessed upon the death of her parents.It is said that the ghosts of Francesco and his grieving mother can be heard wailing throughout the castle.His body and some of his personal items are kept in a wooden cabinet.Warning:  Photo of a mummified toddler below.This freaked me out. Portrait of Marquise Emilia Caetani LonghiI thought after hearing about poor Francesco, that would be it for gruesome stories and we could return to a discussion about all the incredible art.That was not the case.  I noticed a well when we first walked into the castle.  I asked Annie about it and she said all would be explained later.Apparently, back in the day brides had to see the Baron of the castle on their wedding night.  If they were not virgins (how the Baron would know/find out this information, I have not a clue), they would be thrown down the well.  WHAT IN THE WORLD?! There is a lot of history (and shenanigans) inside the walls of this castle.  Thanks, Annie for the organizing the trip!  

Stylish Simplicity - Haribo Gummi Bears

I'm dead serious.During my trip to Munich, I saw Haribo candies everywhere.  Haribo is a Germany company founded in 1920 and the birthplace of Gummi Bears.I know there are fancier gummy candies in the world.They are not for me.  I like my candy the same way I like my dècor, timeless.  Let others jump on the latest sweets fads.I'll stick to the original.  I except no substitutes.

Photo: Yatego.com

Weekend Inspiration - Dead Macbooks and Cy Twombly

What a crazy week this has been.My sister, who lives in Washington DC, was in Hamburg for an international public policy conference and we decided to meet in Munich.One of the highlights of our very quick trip was the Brandhorst Museum.  This modern art space has some really impressive pieces, including works by Cy Twombly.When I returned to Rome, I hit the ground running.  Suddenly, everything came to a halt because my laptop (granted, it was very old) died.Now I'm typing on an Italian keyboard.  I'm glad that the € symbol is right there along with é and è but the darn ' and @ are in completely different places.It's a good thing I'm getting better about rolling with the punches (thanks dysfunctional Italy!)  If this large and unexpected expense had happened last year, I would've worked myself into a giant knot of stress while freaking out about my credit card bill.Instead, I'm thankful that I have a business that's growing and I know that this purchase was an investment in that business.That said, I must admit that a tiny part of me was thinking, "damn, I could've bought a scarf and the bracelet I love at Hermès for that amount."As one of my close friends would say, "It's only money."  Of course this statement is usually uttered by people who have money.  She went on to say that experiences are more important.I do appreciate nice things and I would love to have some of them in my life but I agree with what my friend said about experiences.Yes, I took a big hit this week but what I will remember is standing in a large room in Munich surrounded by Twombly with my sister talking about art, politics, and how despite a ten year age difference we have the exact taste in men.Several of these pieces are in the Broadhorst. Inspiring.  Buon Weekend![youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XO4_A1orV4&w=560&h=315]    

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.

Snapshots - Salina, Sicily

It took me forever to get to Salina.I took a car (at 5:00 a.m.) to the airport to fly to Palermo, a taxi from the Palermo airport to the central train station, the train from Palermo to Milazzo, a ferry from Milazzo to Lipari, a ferry from Lipari to Salina.Once I arrived, I understood why so many of my Italian friends schlep from Rome, Milan, etc. to visit the Aeolian islands.  Stunning.Salina is surprisingly green for a volcanic island, tiny (population 2,000), and there was a constant breeze.  The food was delicious and folks knew how to make a very good cocktail.It was my first trip to any island in Italy.  That's bananas.  I'm an island person.  I was born on the island of Manhattan and my parents are from St. Martin.I cannot wait to return. 

Weekend Inspiration - A Dip In The Pool - Salina, Sicily

Just as I predicted, only a few weeks after everyone and their mother was complaining about the cold wet weather, summer arrived with a vengeance.It's outrageously hot in Rome thanks to winds blowing in from Africa.   It's no joke people, and it's only mid-June. Oh Dio.Last weekend I finally made it to Sicily.   I went to the tiny island of Salina.  The island is gorgeous and the weather was perfect.I spent at lot of time here:This weekend instead of looking out at Stromboli and Panarea poolside, I will be sticking my head in the freezer and thinking cool thoughts.Buon weekend!

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]

Buon Viaggio - Bologna, Italy

I've been to Bologna once before for a very quick day trip with friends.   This time I went for work.Bologna is consistently rated as one the most liveable cities on the planet.  The cuisine is amazing, there are many companies based in the area in a variety of sectors, and a well educated population (the oldest university in the Western world was founded in Bologna).I knew this before I started researching my trip.  I didn't know, however, that there were so many fantastic stores for interiors. I was in décor heaven and I could not get over how friendly everyone was.My sister's former colleague, John, is in Bologna writing his dissertation and we had lunch at Drogheria della Rosa.  It was just as delicious as I remembered and it's one of John's favorite restaurants in Bologna.John was kind enough to bring me a bunch of shelter and cooking magazines from the States.  Later I met up with the lovely Tina for an aperitivo before catching the Italo train back to Rome.  It was a nice way to end a long but productive day.I hope I will be able to return to Bologna soon.Here are three of the showrooms I adored:

BORGO DELLA TOVAGLIE

Housed in a former furrier's workshop, this store blends design, art, and fashion.Borgo delle Tovaglie began as a tablecloth manufacturer in the early '90s.  In 2005 Valentina Muggia and her husband Giuliano Di Paolo bought the company.  Today the brand is internationally known for it's quality and style.   This is their first store and it's a beauty. They carry a variety of brands in addition to their own.  There was so much to see (and buy).   I loved their plates in a bucket.  Very clever and useful.Borgo delle TovaglieVia Farini, 10+39 051-330938www.borgodelletovaglie.com

CAMERA CON VISTA

This store is located in the very pretty Piazza Santo Stefano. Owned by Matteo and Rebecca, here you find one of kind objects from Italy, France, Spain, Sweden, and other countries.They carry jaw-dropping antiques and stunning modern pieces that have been refurbished into furniture.There are always new pieces coming in.  You never know what you might discover during your visit.Camera Con VistaVia Santa Stefano 14/2a+39 051-22468www.cameraconvista.biz

FABRIZIO COCCHI

Interior designer Fabrizio Cocchi's showroom has an elegant, glamorous vibe.  It's bold and full of color.  The photo below is of the neutral section.  When I first walked in, there was a lot of orange and red.Cocchi also had quite the collection of design books.  I would have gladly sat on one of his custom sofas and read for the afternoon.Okay, that would've been weird and rude as it's a store not a library.

Photo: Fabriziococchi.com

Fabrizio CocchiVia Castiglione, 17d+39 051-264358www.fabriziococchi.com

Weekend Inspiration - Relais Monaci Delle Terre Nere - Sicily

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.)

Weekend Inspiration - Felicia Sullivan's Dispatch From Florence

Felicia and I met a few years ago through a friend in NYC.   She's wicked smart, funny, and has a killer sense of style.  Along with being a ridiculously talented writer, Felicia is also a gifted photographer, baker, and cook.Felicia recently left her high-powered/profile job and is traveling in Italy and France for three weeks.  It's not easy to walk away from something that looks great on paper (especially in this economy).  It takes a certain kind of fearlessness to step toward the unknown.I love her blog. The way Felicia writes about life, love, food, etc. is extraordinary.I just read her Florence dispatch and I all I have to say is, "I need to book a train ticket pronto."  I hope her writing and her photos will inspire you.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!

Get Your Interior Design On - The Kathryn M. Ireland Bootcamp Experience

Last month I attended Kathryn M. Ireland's Interior Design Bootcamp in Los Angeles.That would be Kathryn the internationally known designer, NOT Kathy the former SI cover model.  One Hollywood exec said to me, "I thought you were talking about the model the entire time.  Alas, now our conversation has become less interesting to me."  Too funny.  Gotta love Hollywood.It would be hard to describe a packed four day schedule in one short blog post.  Overall, it was fantastic experience.  I was very impressed by Kathryn and her team, Jen, Rebecca, and Francesca.  I learned a lot and enjoyed meeting my fellow bootcampers.There were only seven of us.  Six were in different stages of our careers. One bootcamper had a new house.  For her it was a good opportunity to see how a designer works.  Some bootcampers had degrees in Interior Design and their own showrooms, while others were self taught and just starting out.  It was a great mix.If you watch the show MILLION DOLLAR DECORATORS or have read anything about Kathryn you know that along with being a talented textiles and interior designer, she's a fantastic host.  We met some heavy hitters in the business and it says something about Kathryn that everyone she introduced us to was warm, and down-to-earth.The workshop was organized (binders, books, baked goods!)  We received excellent nuts and bolts information and advice about the business of design.   There were guest speakers who talked about the state of the industry, branding, product development, publicity, and social media.We also visited several high profile showrooms with Kathryn, like Lucca, Nathan Turner, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Peter Dunham, Christopher Farr, Jasper, Pat McGann, etc.Martyn's was our last showroom stop. He had drinks and quips for us.There was down time too (and plenty of wine with meals). We went on a hike in Will Rogers State Park with sick views of the Pacific.  It wasn't mandatory but a nice way to kick off a long day.  That day we visited  Kathryn's print shop.  She opened it in Los Angeles instead of outsourcing the work.  The time it takes to hand print fabric is no joke and that's why it's expensive.We worked on our mood/presentation boards for our projects with input from Kathryn and her team.  I wanted to pull my hair out as I tried to draw my floor plans by hand. Luckily for me, one of my fellow bootcampers was a kitchen and bath designer.  She talked me down off the ledge.I can't really say which highlight (there were many) of the workshop was my favorite.  I can say I returned to Rome feeling excited about the future and inspired.For more information about future Bootcamps, check out Kathryn's WEBSITE.

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Buon Viaggio - Versilia, The Tuscan Coast

Stylish Simplicity - A Bike - Marina di Pietrasanta, Italy

At some point I will post about my first trip to the Tuscan coast. It's been a little bananas during the last two weeks.  Summer is really over.There were bikes all over Marina di Pietrasanta.  It's very bike friendly.  My hotel had bikes but because I haven't been on one in ages, I didn't take advantage of the opportunity.However, next summer I plan to rent a place somewhere in the area, so I better get over my bike issues.I love the simplicity of this bike.  Excellent form and function.These bikes have too much going on.  What's with the fur?  Of course they were located in Forte dei Marmi.