Buongiorno a tutti! Erica Firpo’s Ciao Bella has published my interview with JJ Martin. Yes, it’s true I rave about her and her brand often but I know first hand how difficult it is to be an entrepreneur in Italy. What JJ has created is incredible. It was truly a pleasure to sit down with … Continue reading My Ciao Bella interview with JJ Martin, founder of La Double J
Ciao from a rainy morning in Rome. I know I said I was going to write on this here blog more often but work this year has been very hectic. Perhaps things will slow down during Spring ’22! I’m not complaining as these are good problems to have, especially during these strange pandemic times. I … Continue reading Villa Necchi, A Must See/Do in Milan
Buongiorno from Rome! Things have been quite hectic here even though we’re in the middle of summer. I’m staying put this year. I might go away for a long weekend in late August but it depends on what’s going on with this Delta variant. The tourists are back. Not pre-pandemic number of course but what … Continue reading Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform, and Thrive
Building and designing a new beach house on a tiny island is not the easiest of jobs. This was a personal project and I was working with several people who all have different tastes. I wanted to incorporate everyone’s ideas yet make sure the space was cohesive. This is a cottage so nothing too fancy … Continue reading The Cottage, Meads Bay Beach, Anguilla BWI – Reveal
I know I’m late to the game but I’ve just recorded my first podcast interview. I have mentioned my friend Erica Firpo’s podcast CIAO BELLA on social media before. It’s fantastic and I’m not saying that because she’s a close friend. This description of Ciao Bella sums it up perfectly. “Italy’s 21st-century creators – contemporary … Continue reading Chatting with Ciao Bella!
Greetings from my parents’s veranda. Liming is Caribbean slang for hanging out. Spending time with family and friends. A party. There’s no liming going on here. I arrived in St. Martin a day before all Air France flights to and from Italy were canceled. Sheer luck. I had booked my trip after a major … Continue reading Lockdown in the Caribbean – No Liming
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 *
The last few months have been off the charts hectic, in a good way. One of the projects I’m working on is a new beach house on Meads Bay Beach in Anguilla. I don’t know how or why our job site suffered only a little damage during Hurricane Irma, the strongest hurricane ever recorded in … Continue reading Work in Progress – Anguilla, British West Indies
I’ve bought baker Sofie Wochner’s cinnamon rolls during the Latteria Studio‘s holiday pop-ups. Big fan. I’ve also heard about the pop-up dinners she and her husband, chef Domenico Cortese, used to hold in various locations through out Rome. Sofie and Domenico have dreamed about opening a restaurant and micro bakery in Rome for years and … Continue reading Marigold – A Delicious Newish Restaurant/Bakery in Rome.
I published a post earlier this year regarding how traditional interiors are “in” again. I don’t think they were ever out but I’m thrilled to see color and patterns celebrated again. I recently read about this gorgeous renovation in New York Magazine. I enjoyed The Cut Wendy Goodman’s interesting and informative interview with Interior Designer David … Continue reading The Design Files – A Beautiful Colonial Renovation
Arlene Gibbs Décor 