Posted on Thu, Dec 30, 2010 @ 03:41 PM
My brother, ASHLEY, is on the cover of WORLD OF INTERIORS this month, a rarefied position. 10 pages inside are also dedicated to him, capturing his 'highly developed visual sense' and 'restless, questing mind' And of course his gentle homages to our father.
The simplest and sweetest Christmas present I received this year was also from my brother.
Posted on Fri, Dec 24, 2010 @ 03:41 PM
Our friend Nicole, remarkable in many ways (her father is Motown royalty) is presently serving as American Ambassador to The Bahamas. She invited David and me to join her for their Christmas cocktail party and to spend the night in the residency. There must be few places in the world where you can spend the evening with James Bond and Fine Threads, our esteemed local taxi driver from North Eleuthera. And I was put to shame by these gorgeous girls, I should have spent much more time on my hair and nails.
Posted on Wed, Dec 15, 2010 @ 03:41 PM
Read the whole interview over on DESIGN SPONGE.
Posted on Tue, Dec 14, 2010 @ 03:41 PM
In New York last week I went into TOM FORD and RALPH LAUREN'S flag ship stores.
Both were equally intimidating. Beautiful, mesmerizing but utterly intimidating. They seemed more like art gallery's than shops. Although in TOM FORD they had scattered a little tissue around as though a customer had just been through and tried something on. A clever ploy.
I also went to the BALENCIAGA exhibition, curated by our friend Hamish Bowles. It is simply titled 'Spanish Master'. Also utterly intimidating, through the strength of his vision and technical mastery. SIMON DOONAN told me later that Balenciaga's fashion shows could go on for at least 2 1/2 hours. In the film reel that plays during the exhibition you can see one lady get up and leave, only to return an hour or so later having gone and got her hair done.
Posted on Wed, Dec 08, 2010 @ 03:41 PM
CRABTREE & EVELYN have captured the essence of English style, with simple goodies for the bath and the body. Waaaayyy before 'natural' became hip Crabtree were there, understanding the riches of the natural world. They were inspired by the English 'still room' which existed in a time when the garden played an integral role in our lives, a time when fresh flowers, herbs and fruits were distilled to make fragrant waters for the bath and soothing essences for the skin.
My father was often inspired by these 18th century big country house practices, and although he did not go so far as to install a still room, with requisite still room maid, he insisted on employing a gardener to solely attend to an old fashioned very hot Hot House, in which they successfully grew one banana. Unfortunately the banana nearly bankrupted my parents.
CRABTREE & EVELYN are also a story telling company. Each collection tells its own charming story. They allowed me to tell my stories, ISLAND LIVING AND ISLAND NIGHT. Their windows this Christmas are a reflection of their story telling passion. SU BLACKWELL, a British artist has sculptured these charming story book cut outs. In a world that is constantly changing, it is comforting to know that some traditions endure.
Posted on Sat, Dec 04, 2010 @ 03:41 PM
Alternative modes of transport for people with very short legs.
