Last week my friend Livia invited me to an intimate lunch at the lovely home of Marchesa Violante Guerrieri Gonzaga. Violante is one of the most down to earth Marchese I’ve ever met. Hello, I’ve met people who are Kings and Queens of nothing and yet, as the kids would say, they had a … Continue reading The Most Beautiful Private Terrace in Rome *
Happy New(ish) Year! I’ve read it’s okay to say this until the end of the month. I made it just under the wire. I cannot believe February 1st is next week. I’ve been meaning to check out the new exhibit at the Ara Pacis since the day it opened. It closes February 17th. If you … Continue reading Marcello Mastroianni Exhibit at the Museo dell’Ara Pacis
I have written about Franco – Italian Chez Dédé before. I heard about this incredibly talented and creative couple, Daria Reina and Andrea Ferolla, from the late great Wonderfool. My friend Courtney and I met the lovely Daria at the store/spa and wanted to buy all their bags. Daria and Andrea are quite modest. I didn’t learn … Continue reading Italian Chic – by Daria Reina and Andrea Ferolla
I noticed this large abandoned palazzo when I first moved to Rome. I wondered what the history of the building was and why it was falling apart. I found out that it was a city owned property built in 1929. It used to be the headquarters for the Health Administration. Once those offices moved, the … Continue reading Palazzo Merulana, Rome
My friend Erica invited me to join her on a press trip for the preview of the 16th Architecture Biennale. I haven’t been to any of the Biennale. I follow the art, cinema, and architecture ones on social media but it’s not the same. My first (and last) trip to Venice was twelve years ago, … Continue reading La Biennale Venice – 2018
You may have heard that there’s a royal wedding this weekend in the U.K. I’m very curious about Meghan’s wedding dress. Her style is classic. She wears the clothes, not the other way around. Meghan’s not jumping on every random trend and clearly knows what works for her figure. The only look I didn’t love … Continue reading The Design Files – Royal Wedding Dresses
The other week, my friend Michelle and I decided to meet in Chiusi for lunch and then take the train to Montepulciano, a hill town in southern Tuscany near Siena. Michelle lives in Florence and Chiusi was the prefect half-way point. However, once we were in Chiusi we saw the sporadic train schedule and noticed … Continue reading Montepulciano – Under A Tuscan Sun
The Authentics: A Lush Dive into the Substance of Style by Melanie Acevedo & Dara Caponigro, is gorgeous book that takes us into the beautiful homes of dynamic people who work in a variety of creative fields. Ms. Acevedo is a well known photographer. Ms. Caponigro was one of the founders of DOMINO magazine and … Continue reading The Design Files – The Authentics
The Royal Palace of Naples is a must on my list of things to do in Naples. I wasn’t able to visit until my third trip and now I want to return just so I could spend more time there. The audio tour is interesting and informative. Palazzo Reale is one of four royal palaces … Continue reading Design Inspiration – Palazzo Reale, Naples, Italy
Edited by Carl Dellatore, INTERIOR DESIGN MASTER CLASS: 100 Lessons From America’s Finest Designers On The Art of Decoration, is an outstanding book. Although it’s geared towards students of design and professionals, this book would appeal to anyone who’s curious about interiors. The book is divided into six sections: theory, structure, style, process, elements, and … Continue reading The Design Files – Interior Design Master Class
