Design Guy University™

In with the New.

2012-01-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

Chinese Dragon watch from Swiss watchmaker Jaquet Droz.

I always wanted to ride a dragon myself, so I decided to do this for a year in my imagination. —Cornelia Funke, German illustrator.

Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival as it's translated) is based on the first day of the first month of Chinese lunisolar calendar. It's filled with tradition... at least 15 days of them... filled with food, passing of red envelopes of money to small gifts. So as my gift to you, an assembly of dragons I personally love.

Happy New Year and a year of luck and good fortune to all of you.

Scalamandre's Chi'en Dragon in Lacquer Red, Green On Taupe.

Chiang Mai Dragon, from F.Schumacher, was derived from
a 1920's Art Deco era block print.
[wallcovering shown in Alabaster colorway]

THG's bath fixtures featuring Daum glass dragon accents.

From Gumps, a painted chinese dragon pillow.

A quick look at a Chinese vase ornamented with a dragon.
Click here to see the video featuring Gibson Antiques.
[video from www.valuemystuff.com - youtube.com]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2012-01-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

Yxtaholms Castle.

Last night I saw the movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and was startled when I recognized the castle that was home to the movie's Vanger family. In Stockholm for a wedding a few years ago with my friend Johan, we drove about an hour (or a little more) outside the city as he wanted to show me the property. In the movie, it was just as I had remembered... elegant, serene.

One of the outbuildings considered to be a 'wing' of the castle.

There's another on the other side and

another building behind these two structures.

A historic aerial view of the island.

Located on an island (just like the movie) in Sörmland, Yxtaholms Castle, the wings and the stables were built in 1753 by Baron Gustaf N. Clodt.

To give historic perspective, this was the same year of the establishment of the Swedish Academy of Letters, History, and Antiquities as Sweden. Sweden was also under Parliamentary rule as it wasn't until nearly 20 years later in 1772 Gustav III of Sweden staged a coup d'état, becoming almost an absolute monarch. In the United States, the French and Indian War began in 1754. In 1756, the Seven Year War in Europe.

At that time the primary influence in Swedish culture was Carl Linnaeus, the Father of Taxonomy, who actually came up with the systematic way of classifying plants. Here in St. Louis, the oldest surviving greenhouse in the United States west of the Mississippi, and housed in the Missouri Botanical Garden, is dedicated to Carl Linnaeus and is called Linneaus House or The Linnean.

The façade of the castle in 1908.

Façade of the building in 1920.

A reworking of the garden is apparent by the removal

of the sculpture that appears in the previous photo.

A vintage postcard. The stables are on the right

with a foot bridge in the foreground.

The stables now the conference center.

I would live there in a minute.

Since the 18th century the castle has been owned by multiple families and is now owned by female Polish millionaire Iwona de Jong who bought the property for $35M in 2010. Although run as a hotel since the 1940s, it's been updated and run as a hotel and conference center (the conference center now located in the large stable building). It has 79 rooms and is about an hour and a half drive from Stockholm.

You'll love it if you visit. I certainly did.

A current guest room with a kakelugn stove.

A lovely modern bath.

Boating anyone?

Dining room set with Swedish Rococo-style chairs.

Annus Recentissimus - 2012

2011-12-31T17:57:00.000-08:00

"May your days be painted in gold.

May your life be filled with diamonds.

May the stars shine bright on your world.

May you have a fun-filled year.

Happy New Year."

-Written and given to me by a friend.

A brand new year...may 2012 be one to remember!

-Scott

Images of the Season

2011-12-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

A place setting I created for FEAST magazine.

[photo by Michael Jacobs]

With the holiday season upon us I wanted to thank all of you for reading my blog. Below are some images taken from events surrounding my holiday season I wanted to share. May all of you find peace, joy and love in the new year.

Best,

Scott

The tree at the Old Courthouse, downtown St. Louis.

I was featured this month in Feast Magazine.

The take-out containers are made from Japanese wrapping paper.

[photo by Michael Jacobs]

Waterford and Limoges.

[photo by Michael Jacobs]

I love candles on a table at Christmas.

[photo by Michael Jacobs]

An arrangement I made for a client.

It's not just Christmas we should honor...

This lovely Menorah elegantly celebrates Chanukah.

This boxwood wreath I assembled for my own door this year.

A very personal mantle for a client.

A lot of new things to learn, teach and show in 2012 and Design Guy University... I can hardly wait!! Stay tuned!

My Favorite Things

2011-11-27T12:17:00.000-08:00

Since 1965 the song My Favorite Things from the Sound of Music has dominated the holiday music line up along with countless lists compiled by editors, hollywood stars and the likes of Oprah. So following suit with what might be a cliché during the holidays, I'm sharing my favorite things. (no, the audience will not receive the gifts at the end of the blog).

Cliché or not... here are my favorite things this year:

1. Cyclopedia. A Complete History of the Bicycle with a forward written by fashion designer Paul Smith: You will love this book filled with interesting factoids about the bicycle. Its expertly designed and curiously, the the play on names is appropriate. 'Cyclopaedia' was the name of what was the precursor to the Encyclopedia. [please buy from your local bookstore].

2. Eduardo Garza's lucite boxes. I just love his accessories. This one is a black lucite box with Amethyst and gold accent. His new collection incorporates real skeletons dipped in gold.

3. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Founded by Alice Walton, it opened this year on 11-11-11. A series of 8 buildings connected together via bridges over the creek beds original to the site. Among it's holdings of American Treasures: J.Howard Miller's painting: We can do it (commonly referred to as Rosie the Riveter) and Charles Wilson's Peale's portrait of George Washington, c 1780-82.

4. Missoni fabric. NOT THE ONES FROM TARGET, this is from Missoni Home in Italy. Perfect look for all year round.

5. Preserved boxwood rings. Used for everything from table settings to adoring mirrors and doors, these rings are perfect for every occasion. Because they're preserved you can keep them year round. Available in all sorts of sizes, you can tie them to a large kraft bag for that perfect holiday gift.

6. Small Kota votive by my friend Kim Siebert. New for the season, these votives are so festive and fun. The line also includes a larger candle holder, wine coaster, picture frames, and a set of bowls.

7. Mercedes CL600 in Pladium Silver metallic, black interior. I collected Matchbox cars while growing up and would dream of the new ones Santa would bring on Christmas day. Now that I'm all grown up, I need to get a much larger stocking in hopes that this one would appear this year.

8. Polar Bear Big Eraser. How could you not 'bear' to give this gift for the holidays.

9. Converse Tennis Shoes. Classic. Any guy would love these... this year they're available in Christmas plaid.

10. Brookstone oversized towel warmer. It easily accommodates oversized towels or a robe or blanket. You just plug it into a normal outlet.

Initial Impressions

2011-11-11T06:43:00.000-08:00

Monograms. When I was growing up my grandparents had monogrammed everything. Napkins, silverware... even the glasses had the engraved KFA (my mother's parents Kenneth and Freda Adams)... and when you went to the cabinet for a drink (back then it was milk) I wanted one of those glasses and one of those linen napkins that matched, just like the adults. My other grandparents opted for the single letter T on antique linen from 100 years ago and the single letter on the silverware. Although you see the single initials popular today on napkins or on doormats (easy automation of non-custom details) you don't see elaborate, custom monograms very often... or if you do, they're pretty standard and not very wonderful.

I was tooling around online a few years ago and I located and met Caroline Brackenridge of Monogram Inc.... she does amazing work. I reconnected with her recently and we talked about her creativity, her business and about Phoebe...her dog.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in Long Island, Vermont and Bermuda. I moved into NYC and worked various jobs: Town & Country Magazine, Grey Advertising, as a studio manager/assistant to a fashion photographer, and eventually for the largest commercial film production company in NY as a production manager for many years. I currently live in NYC with my Bernese Mountain dog, Phoebe.

Phoebe.

How did decide to start your monogram business?

I was on vacation in the Caribbean. We were staying in a house where they had the most beautiful hand embroidered antique linens. It occurred to me that no one was doing this anymore and it might be time to take advantage of bringing this beautiful craft back to life again in a more modern way. When I returned home I did some research to find that there actually wasn't anyone out there that did this anymore. So I collaborated with some embroidery companies, found linen suppliers and taught myself how to draw in this very strange and precise kind of way. I quit the film business eventually and devoted myself to creating beautiful monograms that were representative of the heirlooms that I have always admired. Hand embroidery, or hand-guided embroidery were the only methods back in the day, but modern technology has given us the opportunity to digitize the monogram for the embroidery machine. This enables us to re-size according to the project and it comes out the same every time. We can change colors for different environments, etc.

Click on photo above to enlarge.

You just don't do monograms, you also do heraldic crests and create other art… what are some of your favorite examples.

I like to take a client's crest and combine it with their initials underneath. There is a great deal of elegance in this and the combination creates a nice balance. Sometimes a client will have an obsession with their dog or something else in their life that is important. I love the challenge of developing the something that represents their love of life.

Click on photo above to enlarge.

Say that I would want a personal monogram, what would be some questions you'd ask me as part of the interview to draw up the design?

I ask my clients to go onto my website. If there is anything there that appeals to them, this will give me a place to start. If a client wants to incorporate another element whether it be their favorite flower or something else then I try to accomodate that request. I draw up some preliminary drawings. We discuss these and I make the necessary revisions. The customer then decides to move on to embroidery on linens or camera ready artwork for stationery. All jobs are a new challenge and love creating a design that is very personal to the customer.

Click on photo above to enlarge.

What haven't you done that you'd love to do?

To spend hours and hours in bookstores in Europe looking for inspiration. Everything inspires me, but I am always hungry for more and usually have a camera with me.

Knowing that you have your monograms applied expertly to everything from linen to crystal ( I heard your engraver is retired from Tiffany&Co.), what would you say is the most unusual application of your monograms to date?

Most of my clients are traditional. They prefer beautiful linens, stationery and sometimes engraving on silver or etching on glass. I continue to work with the best artisans in the business and we are all proud of our work. If I don't do the actual work for them, then I really don't know how the client intends on using it. Hopefully the monogram will not be over-used and always in good taste.

Click on photos to enlarge.

What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I am thankful everyday. When my feet hit the ground every morning I consider it a great day! I'm also thankful for my friends & family and especially my 94-year-old mother who is in good health.

Duke of Duquette: Hutton Wilkinson

2011-11-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hutton Wilkinson, the "Duke" of Duquette

This past week I spent some time with my friend Hutton Wilkinson. Name sound familiar? Well if you watch HSN he has a lot of jewelry and home decor items but what you don't know is that he's owner of the brand Tony Duquette, an interior design firm, brand of high-end fabric and furniture and also fine jewelry.

Tony Duquette was an interior design icon of the 20th century. Hutton joined Tony when he was 17 years old as an intern. After years of working together, then apart, they became business partners and when Tony passed in the 90s, Hutton became owner of the brand expanding into textiles and other items.

Hutton and I had dinner at Franco, drinks out and I visited him at SAKS Fifth Avenue earlier on in the week where he was showing his new line of fine jewelry and signing his new book. (see below).

Below are some images from the Tony Duquette brand and I hope you enjoy... !

Tony Duquette

Bullock's Department Store, ca 1935

What people don't realize is that Tony Duquette decorated the Chase Park Plaza.

All that remains are the conference rooms and the lobby of the older building,

The Chase Residences.

One of the gorgeous pieces Hutton designed for the fine jewelry line

available through SAKS Fifth Avenue.

Christmas is coming.. so buy not one but 10 of these books to give to your friends.

Available at your local bookseller or at Amazon.com

Interior of Tony Duquette's personal residence still in tact and part of the estate in L.A.

Gorgeous malachite rug designed by Hutton for Tony Duquette

Woolworth-Wise

2011-08-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

Priscilla Woolworth, a candid moment.

As a designer I'm constantly coming across websites to help not only design a person's environment, but also maintain and make that environment more nurturing. In my own life I'm taking steps to take care of myself in terms of food, nutrition and taking an active step in my small footprint to make sure I'm acting in a responsible way.

I spoke with Priscilla Woolworth a few weeks ago. Her website priscillawoolworth.com has so many great things you can use for your home to create a balanced and conscience lifestyle... I particularly love her blog where she shares her thoughts on seed collecting [something I did myself with my grandparents growing up on the farm]. Here's some things we discussed... and after reading, you'll fall in love with her just like I did.

Knowing that you spent the summers in Maine with your Grandmother… what were some traditional things you’d do each year that you’d look forward to?

I'd look forward to the Sunday lunch feast at her house. It was amazing! When I was younger: digging with a pitchfork in her rhubarb patch for worms and going fishing off one of her docks, and sitting in the middle of her vegetable garden eating her peas and strawberries. Playing Capture the Flag at night was de rigeure and everyone had to play; it was so much fun. Drives to the Maine coast for fresh steamed lobster at an authentic lobster shack, visiting Jamie Wyeth on his island, Union Antiques fair in August, and twice a week runs to the local farmer's market.

If you and I were to go to a farmer’s market near your house and I gave you a bag to do my shopping what would you fill it with for the week … and what would you avoid?

I would fill it with fresh farm eggs, organically grown fruit and vegetables in season and a bag of fresh mushrooms. I would avoid buying conventionally grown produce as much as I could and any produce not grown locally.

What inspired in life to influence the development of your website that has both an almanac and an online store?

Recently released photo from NASA of Earth.

Being a concerned citizen of the world, I wanted to do something to be part of the movement of change. A store on the Internet is an effective way of reaching many people beyond your own city and the almanac is the platform I use to share information on how to make changes to our lifestyle. The store provides the products that help make those changes possible and the almanac provides curated information about what is going on out in the world that is positive and inspiring.

What are some of your favorite memories of growing up in France?

St.Paul de Vence.

I had a magical childhood in the south of France. I was very lucky because I lived in this wonderful old Villa in Cannes, with many rooms to play hide and seek. I also spent a lot of time at my granparents's house which was at the foot of St.Paul de Vence. They had a huge fig tree I used to sit in and read the latest Tintin or Asterix and when I needed a break, I would walk up to the village and slide all the way down the hillside to a ravine at the bottom. I remember finding the sweetest peaches on a tree and bringing them back for my grandmother. She is still talking about those peaches! Eating Pan Bagnats on a picnic on an outing in the hills outside Cannes, picking cherries from trees by the sides of the roads, spying on Picasso in his garden in Mougins while I was on a playdate, and going to the farmer's market with my grandfather.

Knowing that you’re all about GREEN, what is one misconception that people have about going green and how do you dispel that thought?

It's much easier to make changes in your lifestyle than I thought it was going to be. Over the past 10 years, I have made changes gradually which have become the norm for me, rather than doing everything at once.

You have what I would call a creative lab at your house where you create and test things out for sale on your website. What are you testing or working on right now?

Since we are all polluting our houses with all manner of detritus we bring in, I am testing out a sticky doormat that pulls all the dirt off from the bottom of your shoes before you walk in the house. I also have some non-toxic shampoo and non-toxic lipstick that I am trying out. I test everything out before I carry it in my store or recommend it. I want to make sure it's worth your while and besides, I am my own best customer! I wouldn't sell anything I wouldn't use myself.

If you could give your girls one piece of advice to give to their children, what would it be?

Only buy what you really need. Make that choice wisely because everything we buy impacts the world.

Good advice, don't you think? Next time: some ideas for the upcoming Showhouse in St. Louis I thought you might enjoy.

Perfectly Pruned Plot... Part 2, the Gardens of Parkwood Estate

2011-07-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

This base to an old garden armillary (the armillary part missing) was dated 10 years before Parkwood gardens. Adorned with Mr. McLaughlin's monogram, one could only assume the family brought this with them from their previous house. I noticed it while strolling the grounds.

In the last post, I showed the interior spaces of Parkwood Estate and now ... Part 2.. the gardens one of the few remaining grand garden designs in tact by Harries & Hall, Dunington-Grubb and John Lyle.

I've seen the gardens of royal palaces, the lovely estates of Winterthur, Vanderbilt (Ashville) and ones at Cheekwood. All have a story, all have a personality. I have never seen a garden like the one at Parkwood... there's an art deco surprise at the end... so look through all the photos.

I'll post these photos with a bit of commentary... but photos speak a thousand words... don't you think?

To the right of the entry of the house was this arbor with a 1930s statue at the end.

Some of the more interesting trees along the walk...

This window led from the dining room out to the gardens. Most rooms on the lower level led to the outdoors.

This ancient plant was pruned to allow visitors up the stairs and onto the terrace.

A spectacular shot of one of the statues in the Venetian Garden, Sam McLaughlin's private garden which could only be accessed or seen from his personal office. Rarely would visitors or even his family be allowed in this sanctuary.

Another view of the Venetian Garden.

Strolling, I shot this view of the back of the house.

One of many rose gardens, this one was near what was the vegetable and herb garden and also the white garden.

Are these not amazing?

At the end of the official tour, I climbed up onto a support and took this photo looking into the Venetian garden through the guarded and enclosed lattice work, sticking the camera precariously almost dropping it. It was worth it.

Like hallways in a house, a garden has to have a vista or a destination. Placing this pavilion at the end of a path makes the pedestrian want to go forward. A painting or sculpture at the end of a long hallway has the same effect.

The Sunken Garden now used for parties and weddings.

This was the children's tea house. The children would go and, with the help of a servant, learn the proper way of drinking tea and outdoor entertaining. Behind and attached is a gardner's storage shed.

A drink and a book (or my iPad) please.

Amazing no matter where you are on the property.

We walked and then came upon a surprise. Designed and built by John Lyle (the same one who added at the same time, the Art Deco bedroom for Sam McLaughlin in the previous post)

A pair of these urns flanked the pool house where we had lunch. What a way to enjoy a nosh looking over the reflecting pond. So relaxing.

Although deco in design, Sam McLauglin wanted to celebrate Canada so art deco inspired Canadian Geese were integrated into the wall fountain at the far side of the reflecting pool where Poseidon himself is making sure the garden is nourished with water.

Oshawa Gem: Parkwood Estate, Part 1

2011-07-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

Parkwood Estate is located about an hour and a half drive from Toronto in the town of Oshawa. I'm breaking this post into two parts: 1. The House and 2. The Gardens.

R. Samuel McLaughlin was Chairman of the Board of General Motors(GM)-Canada and V.P. of GM worldwide. Parkwood was the family home of the McLaughlins (Sam, Adelaide and their 5 daughters) from 1917 until 1972. The 55-room house is one of the few surviving homes from the early 20th century and contains the majority of it's original interiors less some paintings that were donated to museums and some few minor bedrooms converted over to staff offices and storage.

Designed by the Toronto architectural firm of Darling and Pearson, Parkwood cost over $100,000 and the family employed 40 staff members to maintain the house and property.

I'll take you for a quick tour so please enjoy... I certainly did. Can I please go back now and move in?

The Billiard Room's woodwork is enhanced by the McLaughlin coat of arms. The room is dominated by a large snooker table.

A sequence of upper-wall murals in the billiard room are based upon the McLaughlin family recreational activities, painted by well known Canadian artist Frederick S. Challener.

A portrait of Admiral Sir George Pocock, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, resides in the library... one of three paintings by Reynolds the family owned. (not shown)

The piano, bought at Eaton's was brought to the house. Thought to not be
'quite right'... it was shipped to Italy for painted ornamentation.

A room addition, the loggia was added onto and this sunny living room was added for an additional entertaining spaces.

Note the parrots painted in the ornamentation of the ceiling. Each bird is different... reinforcing attention to detail.

The arched loggia used to be the outdoor area.. the room addition was added only about 10 years after the house was built.

The back of the house shows the addition onto the loggia.

Three panels entitled The Enchanted Wood appears on the wall in the side hall. Painted by Canadian artist,
Frederick S. Challener.

Care for a game of bowling? This entertainment wing included a
family sitting room and greenhouse area (to the right of where this photo was taken).
This bowling alley integrated an early version of an automatic pin-setter for both five and ten pin bowling.

In the distance you can see the office area of Sam McLaughlin. If you were standing where this photo was taken, behind you would
walk to the indoor pool and locker rooms
.

The walls of the Dining Room were adorned with portraits of his 5 daughters. One of his daughters was a painter and was influenced by the Group of Seven,
a group of well-known Canadian painters in the 20th Century.

Below, the painting 'After the Bath', 1889 by Paul Peel acquired eventually by Sam McLaughlin. This painting catapulted the Canadian artist to fame after winning a bronze medal for the painting in the Paris Salon of 1890.
The original painting is now in the Art Gallery of Ontario. A copy is here in its original place.

Bedroom designed by John Lyle (note: he also designed the Novia Scotia Bank Building which is now part of the Parliment Library complex.)

In the next posting... I'll share the gardens.. you won't want to miss it. I've never seen anything like it.

America (and Canada) the Beautiful

2011-07-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

With Independence Day, July 4th, and Canada Day (celebrating not the independence of Canda but the unification of four of the provinces in the 1800s), July 1, I thought I'd celebrate both countries with this post.

Last week while in Canada, I visited Niagra Falls. Nestled between the border of the province of Ontario and the State of New York, Niagra Falls is beyond words. Majestic, powerful, and yet peaceful. The photos are mine in the posting less the vintage photo and the paintings.

What's unusual about this natural outlet from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario? The color. What makes the color so green/vibrant? Erosion. From the Niagra Falls Canadian website: "An estimated 60 tons of dissolved minerals are swept over Niagara Falls every minute. The colour comes from the dissolved salts and "rock flour", very finely ground rock, picked up primarily from the limestone bed but probably also from the shales and sandstones under the limestone cap at the Falls." The color that most closely resembles it to my memory is Jade when I visited the mines in Alaska.

This is the Maiden of the Mist, a boat that one can take for an up-close view.

I was amazed when I saw the boat up close and then noticed

how it dwarfed when near the falls.

The day I visited, the day was slightly overcast with some rain.

The advantage is that on overcast days, colors seem to be true.

The water at the bottom of this photo is exactly

the color green described above.

Overcast, the mist is created by both the rain that day plus the

water leaping over the falls.

Alvan Fisher - A General View of the Falls of Niagara, 1820

The Smithsonian Institution

Thomas Cole - Distant View of Niagara Falls, 1830

Art Institute of Chicago

This photo is from 1911-12, when the falls froze over. Sometimes when

it was solid (which wasn't often) restaurants would serve tea or lunch

and actually have tables out on the ice. The only time the falls shut

completely down due to ice was in 1841.

Tomorrow... Toronto

2011-06-20T15:41:00.001-07:00

Part business part R&R, I'm leaving for Toronto. Can hardly wait to share what I see and what I learn while there.

Royal Reminiscing...

2011-04-28T10:25:00.001-07:00

Catherine Oxenberg

With husband, actor Casper Van Dien, acting as messenger last night, I asked Catherine if I could share her current blog entry... Casper responded "She says she would be thrilled... but just give her one more hour...she is editing it right now." So naturally, I agreed.

Besides being a talented actress and director, Catherine Oxenberg is the daughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia. With the Royal Wedding happening, I wanted to share her blog entry with you as you'll realize immediately with her writing, she's this down-to-earth, real person. I just love her... and you will too.

Shhh... a secret she doesn't know... her grandfather, Prince Paul of Yugoslavia is one of my heroes. The National Museum of Serbia has one of the most revered collections of French paintings with over 250 works having been from the Prince Paul's personal collection.

Like to leave a message on Catherine's blog? Please click here.

She'd love to hear from you but also you should read her past and future entries.

Thanks, Catherine!

-------------------------------------------------

My Almost Royal Wedding -

Catherine Oxenberg

"The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton (William is my 3rd cousin) is fast approaching and I am reminded of the day, 31 years ago, when I almost became William’s aunt and Princess Diana’s sister-in-law -

Flash back to the night of July 27, 1981 – right before the wedding of William’s parents, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. I arrived at Buckingham Palace with my mother, H.R.H Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, to attend a ball in honor of the royal couple. I still remember my dress – It was a knee length, ruby-red taffeta dress, layered ruffles, with a bustier and gold and black swirls – Signature 80’s! Actually, the length was a point of contention, as my mother and I tugged down on the dress to ensure that my knees were covered – but then discovered, to our dismay, that the top became too risqué!

I had never seen such opulence in all my life – Buckingham Palace had been transformed into a royal fantasyland. We were handed a map upon arrival, presumably to prevent us from getting lost in the palatial labyrinth. There were 3 ballrooms, each playing a different style of music – jazz, classical and pop – so that every generation could shimmy to their preferred tempo. Most of the guests danced until the wee hours, and the buffet, which spanned the length of an entire stateroom, morphed from dinner into breakfast.

Every royal imaginable was in attendance. My mother had instructed me since i was little, that as the daughter of a princess, the protocol, according to my standing in the royal pecking order, was that I had only to curtsey to kings and queens – not to princes or princesses. The fewer the better! I hated curtseying and always felt as if I was going to lose my balance. The only royal I made sure to give a wide berth to was Princess Grace of Monaco – she had given me, Prince Andrew and her son, Prince Albert, a stern lecture earlier that night, at a pre-ball dinner held at Claridges’ Hotel, chastising us for our appalling manners – she had caught us throwing bread rolls at each other during dinner. Food fights were a bad habit amongst young members of the upper crust! I must admit that I had enlisted Prince Charles to throw giant Dublin prawns on another occasion!

Prince Charles is my mother’s 2nd cousin, and they maintain a close friendship. Just to give you an idea how convoluted royal lineages are – Charles’ great-grandfather, King George of Greece was my great-great grandfather. Queen Alexandra of England was my great-great-great aunt and Charles’ great-great grandmother. Charles’ father, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh was my grandmother, H.R.H Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark’s 1st cousin, and, King George VI’s (Charles’ grandfather) younger brother Georgie, the Duke of Kent (both brothers had the same name – confusing?!) was married to my grandmother’s sister, Princess Marina – are you still with me?!! but I had never met Lady Diana before.

Charles took me by the hand and brought me over to meet her. She was standing alone, in the corner of the ‘pop’ ballroom – Duran Duran was blaring over the sound system– probably a first for that room! I will always remember the giant disco ball spinning drunkenly from the middle of the ceiling, in lieu of a chandelier. The strobe lights magnified the iridescent shimmer of her clingy, sequined gown. She was statuesque and I had never seen any royal dress with that kind of slinky style! Diana and I shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, but she seemed nervous and distracted. Her eyes betrayed something that surprised me – this was not the look of a princess convinced her future held a fairytale ending.

Later that evening, I stepped out onto the balcony – the famous balcony that we always see the Queen waving from – with Prince Andrew – I neglected to mention that Prince Andrew had been courting me, filling my hotel room at Claridges’ with boxes of dozens of bouquets of long stemmed roses.

It was a beautiful evening, and from our vantage point, we could see the hundreds of thousands of jubilant well-wishers, celebrating this historic event. Andrew gently took my hand in his and gazed into my eyes.

Why hadn’t I anticipated this? I don’t know, but he caught me completely by surprise. And whenever I’m nervous, or caught off guard, I resort to giggling and/or glib humor. I flipped his hand over and started reading his palm. I told him he had long life, a good heart, and absolutely no brains whatsoever. He laughed whole-heartedly, and undeterred, he proceeded to propose to me.

“Would you be interested in marrying me or would you prefer to be an actress?”

Without hesitation, I said to him, “quite honestly Andrew, I’d really rather prefer to be an actress.”

I was 18 years old at the time, 3 months younger than Diana to the day. I had just graduated from high school and had decided to defer for a year from Harvard University to pursue acting and modeling in NYC.

Prince Andrew didn’t seem too distraught by my refusal, in fact, he seemed to sympathize, and we danced on into the early morning. He continued to correspond with me after that, once sending me a letter written on toilet paper while he was stationed in The Falkland Islands. I have been asked, “why toilet paper?” And I guess the answer might have to do with where he was inspired to write to me from! (joke!) I felt sorry for anyone who had to use that paper for that which it was intended for – It looked more like parchment paper and was probably better suited for writing than wiping anyways!

Exactly a year later, I was in NYC pursuing my dream. My 2nd audition happened to be for the role of Princess Diana in the CBS TV movie, “The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana”. The producers weren’t aware of my relationship to the British royal family, but my look was similar and I had a great British accent. As unskilled and relatively untrained as I was, I miraculously gave a great audition, and I remember the precise moment that the reading came alive. I could see out of the corner of my eye, the producer and the casting director looking at each other with the expression of “we’ve found her.” I got a call almost immediately after the audition telling me that I had the offer. It was my first acting role and I was ecstatic.

However, the thrill of success dissipated, when my mother told me that she was extremely anxious that I would be ostracized by my royal cousins. I received a severe reprimand in the form of a letter, from the King of Greece, who felt that it was disrespectful for me to impersonate Diana. Panic set in. My mother kindly called Prince Charles and told him that I had been hired to play his wife. His gracious response was, “well, they are going to make the film anyway, at least she can bring dignity to the role.” I was so relieved. It was as close to a blessing as I could have hoped for.

Accepting this first role as an actress signaled a major crossroad in my life and closed the doors on palace life. And it would eventually strike me as ironic, that if I wasn’t going to be a princess, I would be impersonating one on screen! And more than once!

As I looked back at that moment over the years, I was always shocked that my response was so immediate. Granted, I knew how hard life in the royal fish bowl was – as did Andrew- which is why he gallantly gave me an out – but why didn’t I even take a minute to mull over his proposal?

It took me years to uncover a deeper, darker explanation – I had been molested as a child by a royal prince. That made so much sense – of course I would react like that! The last thing in the world I would want – would be to marry a prince, after all, the belief embedded in my subconscious was that a prince = perpetrator.

As I peeled away the layers of my psyche, I was amazed to discover how certain childhood events would have so much power in shaping life-changing decisions that I would make as an adult.

It took my current husband to point out another reason I should not have married Andrew – we were 2nd cousins – even if it was once removed! A fact that escaped both me and cousin Andrew!

And truth be told, I did end up marrying a prince – one that came with a loincloth rather than a crown!

This evening was indelibly etched in my memory forever. Not only was it a historic event for 100′s of millions around the world, but for me personally, it held some rather extraordinary details which would be hard for anyone to forget."

To see Catherine's blog directly, please click here.

Good Things Come in Small Royal Packages...

2011-04-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

In St. Louis we laugh about the local news reporters as they always have to make some connection to St. Louis with any sort of major news item no matter how shaky or insignificant the relationship is. However, as my friends gasp, I'm going to do the same in this entry...

I live six blocks from the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) which was founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw. What people don't realize is that Mr. Shaw worked directly with the director and other botanists at the Kew Gardens in England to help create his vision known now as the MBG. Ranked in order, the Kew and our MBG is #1 and #2 in the world... So naturally I feel St. Louis has such a connection with Kew Gardens and owe it's founders thanks for our treasure here.

If you don't know Kew Gardens it holds the largest collection of plants in the world and is noted as the single most important botanical collection known. But what might be missed is a little known treasure on it's grounds, the Kew Palace.

Although there were four structures known as the Kew Place, the one that we know of today was actually built in 1631 for Samuel Fortrey, a French-born Flemish merchant and then later acquired by the royal family. It's the last remaining structure of a complex of buildings that made up the royal compound. It later was the place that Queen Charlotte died unexpectedly after leaving Buckingham palace going there for a rest not feeling well. The house was set up for public display during the end of Queen Victoria's reign as she wanted it to look just as her grandmother had left it...

The smallest of all the Royal Palaces of England, I thought I'd share it's Dutch architecture and refined details with you. (the Palace went through a major renovation in 2005-6).

For further reading, here are two fact sheets from the Royal Historic Palaces website:

Interior furnishings of Kew click here. History of Kew Palace click here.

Please enjoy as I did while researching this wonderful, intimate place which was the favorite home of King George III and Queen Charlotte and their family.

18th c. brass door locks. It bears the Royal cipher of

Frederick, the Prince of Wales.

Drawing room.

George III library.

Engraving showing the Kew Palace from the Thames River.

The plaster ceilings were restored in 2005.

Vintage photograph showing interior.

Queen Charlotte's bedroom.

Imagine playing on this period harpsichord.

Royal Appointment...

2011-04-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Me and Earl Spencer.

Union Jack bunting, wedding souveniers donning the portraits of the lucky couple, tabloid explosions... It’s not a secret that we’re approaching another Royal Wedding.

So I thought it fitting to create a few postings associated with the Royal Couple.

Althorp was the childhood home of Princess Diana and the current Earl Spencer. It sits on 14,000 acres of beautiful countryside in Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Norfolk.

The interiors show a 500-year compilation of art, furniture and case goods that are now being reproduced by the manufacturer Theodore Alexander. (the proceeds go to the renovation and maintenance of the home.)

Enjoy!

Althorp entrance.

Drawing Room.

Dining Room.

King William Bedroom.

Great Room.

Saloon.

Oak Bedroom.

Library.

Alternate View of Library.

Spring Entertaining...

2011-04-11T23:25:00.001-07:00

© Susan Jackson Photography.

Spring is here and it brings to mind having lunch or an afternoon coffee with some of my great friends laughing and enjoying the cool weather. As I was going through some computer files in some electronic archaeological dig, I unearthed these wonderful photos my photographer friend Susan Jackson took a several years ago when we collaborated on a project. This was my first time doing food styling! Susan is just one of my favorite people and we started our own respective businesses years ago in and around the same time... so when we're together it's as if a brother and a sister are together laughing and having fun.

To prove all you need is a keen eye for design, all the items you see are from Goodwill. No, I'm not kidding... The most expensive item was the silver plate teapot at around $12. All the Goodwill stores were searched out, no one store had every item... it was a job!

I hope this inspires you to search the back of those cabinets, flea markets and even those charity resale shops that help benefit others in need.

Please note: All photos are copyrighted, Susan Jackson Photography.

Wine glasses, silver and dinnerware....

so nice.. I'm ready to eat now!

A pressed glass bowl provides just the right look

for the shabby chic table and the gorgeous cut flowers.

This is a tea party I want to go to.

This is actually a glass candle holder.

Think outside the box, this was the right size for

pistachios and a little garnish of glitz.

There were no marks on this creamware.

But it's the perfect container for these blackberries.

This is a silver plated butter dish. The top missing,

it makes the perfect presentation for jam or condiments.

This silver plated chafing dish was $7.

(the word chafing comes from the Old French chauffer, "to make warm" )

Anything but cheesy, I'm ready to fill my plate.

The lace was found on a shelf under some sweaters.

Pewter and silver DO go together. This unmatched set

is perfect for guests wanting a bit of a healthy nosh.

Taking a 'stand' for design, this silver plate number

is perfect for small confections, or in this case, nuts.

A white resin mirror makes the perfect tray for this

elegant silver coffee pot. One lump or two?

(or in this case, one packet or two?)

Strawberries displayed beautifully in this pierced

open work, footed container.

Shabby chic means nothing needs to match.
These two napkins don vintage broaches.

This couldn't 'bee' any better!

Wallflowers

2011-03-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the Wallflowers singing All Things New Again and I was really inspired to reflect, as we all do when Spring comes, how things are and where we're at and what has changed. I just got done moving. I have lost four friends since December. So much growth and moving on. I even felt the twinge of a Spring romance...

I love the place I am in my life both mentally and physically and I feel great.

When all this reflection was going on, I happened to be at the Missouri Botanical Garden... so here are some scenes of Spring as I saw them through my camera and a reveal of my new place (before picture) so that you can see where I am and then possibly reflect where you are.

As the song goes "...I'm am unpainted portrait; I am staring at a new sunset without any memories yet..." [full lyrics are at the end of blog entry]

These pansies aren't left over from fall.. these are fairly new plantings.

Cherry blossoms

You can see the forsythia springing to life

along with the bulb plants under the nearby tree.

It's like the flowers are singing "Spring!"

My new place...

The architectural features are great.

Site of my new office where I'm typing now...

The little details are great.

Look at the kitchen sink and cabinets.

HAPPY SPRING!!

Lyrics:

The Wallflowers: All Things New Again

New heaven over a brand new sky

New breed of wonder on the vine

Among the living

There is new promise in this night

New arms to hold back the revolution

New eyes to recognize what you've become

New blood to recover

A new will to honor all God's creations

All things are new again

Within and without

All things are new again

New shepherd roaming through the tall grass

A new temple rising through the falling ash

That buries the tracks

Of millions of boots marching in packs

Clearwater rolling thought the dam's collapse

Out to the harbor where they're sailing back

New flag on the mast

Without any secrets, without any past

All things are new again

Within and without

Sooner or later the ending begins

Just then it can be said that all things are new again

New ghost returning to the earth beneath the haze

New poets burning through the lines of every page

I'm am unpainted portrait

I am staring at a new sunset

Without any memories yet

All things are new again

Within and without

Sooner or later the ending begins

Just then it can be said that all things are new again

Within and without

Sooner or later every season ends

Then forever it can be said that all things are new again

Be mine.

2011-02-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

St. Valentine's Day has become a day of red hearts, red roses and spending time with and celebrating those we love. The day first became associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages and was a religious holiday on the catholic calendar until 1969.

So to celebrate this day of love in 2011, I'm sharing some of my new favorites I'd like to be mine.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Who wouldn't want this dragon delivering his

bouquet of flowers?

Chiang Mai Dragon, Schumacher

Love never goes out of style...
The Era barstool was designed in 1859 and
is still in production.
Era Barstool, Design Within Reach

[insert whistling] "Wow, what a dish."
Cloisonne Vessel bowl, Ginger Bath - Toronto.

Daisies for Valentines Day?
If roses aren't your style, this wall covering might be.
Daisy in Kooky Coral, Bradbury and Bradbury.

Forget that small child with the arrows.. how about Zebras?

Zebra, Scalamandre

2011-02-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

The bar and area near the front lobby.

I've been stressed out with deadlines and just freezing cold like most of the midwest... and most of my friends across the country... and thought an hour of wishing I were at this great hotel again would help cheer me up... and my readers as well. I took these pictures while there last year and pulled them off the computer this morning to share.

Designed by Morris Lapidus (one of his most important buildings) the Fountainbleau opened in 1954. It's not only well known for the celebrity and wealthy guests, but also its iconic pool and luxurious appointments that have graced the big screen in such movies as Goldfinger and Scarface.

With the billion dollar renovation and expansion, the hotel now boasts over 1500 rooms. The resort’s most distinguishing features include two new towers; 11 restaurants and lounges; and a 40,000-square-foot spa.

So enjoy the photos and escape from the cold air if only in your mind....

Another seating area in the lobby.

Isn't this a great idea. Watermelon in water... very refreshing.

They have an adult section away from children/pets that you can lounge and enjoy.

Another seating area where I saw a lot of people reading

using their iPads.

The signature bow-tie motif of Morris Lapidus repeated throughout.

I asked and this is one of their original wall sconces

near the elevators.

The detail of the terrazzo floors are amazing.

Postcard ca. 1960

The new glass addition I love. It reflects the palm trees and also the beautiful landscaping.

Reserved... just for me.

Ahhh...

I usually cannot handle commercial carpeting in hotels...

this is acceptable.

Glamorous door to the Aquamarine boutique near the entrance to the pool area.

It reminds me of homes in old movies.

Men's bathroom. You could apply this look for a

double vanity in your home.

(well, less the commercial paper towel dispenser)

Unusual abstracted frosted glass partition of one of the restaurants.

It reminds me of the trunks of a palm tree 'forest.'

Biltmore Hotel

2011-02-07T13:09:00.000-08:00

It's still cold, chilly and some cities are recovering from what was a major snowstorm in the midwest (and some other areas like Ohio, etc.) So although I've been just swamped catching up on projects and life in general, I wanted to follow through with my promise of posting some 'warm' posts of some wonderful places.

The Biltmore Hotel was built in 1926 by John McEntee Bowman. The hotel, although named for the estate in Ashville, NC has no relationship to that estate, but rather the chain envokes the feeling of what living might be like in the Vanderbilt mansion.

Located in Coral Gables, a community near Miami, I went there to meet a friend for lunch and I couldn't wait to pull out my camera and share the architecture and interior decoration. It served as a hospital during World War II and as a VA Hospital and campus of the University of Miami medical school until 1968. It was then bought and converted back into a hotel in 1987.

Please enjoy the photos.

The interior is definitely old-world, but has a homogenized French, English and Italian motifs... and some newer American - styled furniture.

This side-staircase is so gorgeous. Completely carved some of stone and some of wood then faux-painted.

Who wouldn't want to be reincarnated as a bird so you'd have to live here? The curtain is to keep sunlight out, but the convex window allows a viewer to enjoy the birds.

I tried to take a photo of the residents...

These moorish-inspired doors open up to a grand ballroom located on the lower level.

I would love this as a studio apartment... wouldn't you? It was set up for a small, intimate wedding that was taking place later on that afternoon.

Lunch by the golf course... with a stunning view of the back façade.

Care to take a dip in the pool??

DGU for the new year and the Setai Hotel

2011-01-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

I took a lot of time thinking about Design Guy University and this blog and where it was going and what it's purpose was. And I realized that it's design inspiration with history and a lot of design factoids that they don't teach you in design school, but that you learn through experience by doing or living.

So starting this year I wanted to take you on a tour of Miami's beautiful art deco area South Beach where I stayed during the holiday and through New Years. In fact this post is a bit delayed because I'm still sorta long to be in vacation mode... but now I'm back I can share my design inspirations with you.

The Setai, situated on Collins Drive, was a complete Oasis Christmas day when I visited this past December. I had just had a beautiful walk on the boardwalk listening to the Ocean when I felt compelled to go in and enjoy. I later went back a few days later, I'll share that in a bit.

The Setai hotel is comprised of two buildings: the restored old art deco building that was once the Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel opening in 1936 and the glass tower which contains larger rooms, suites and conference areas. It's all connected as a complex which is completely hidden by both the boardwalk and Collins avenue. Inside is where the newer, Asian hotel is a visual treat for the eyes.

The entry is large and has a short entry hall divided into four. One side is reception and concierge, the other is restaurant/bar area and entry into the courtyard reflecting pool.

Couldn't you imagine this lovely floral arrangement (yes, it was real) at your home. The roses were perfect. The hurricane held an orange. They were several of these along the perimeter of the reflecting pond. Oranges represent not only good health & long life but is a symbol of wealth. (what an economic, but classy look.) The floors throughout were made of grey, antique brick that was shipped from Shanghai where at one time, coincidentally, had the largest collection of art deco buildings in the world.

The courtyard outside was one large relecting pond. This was not a pool for swimming or wading, but for meditation and relaxation. Four statues were placed in each of the four corners, each an interpretaion of a calligraphy stamp that a scholar would sign a scroll or document.

Because I was there at the holidays, they had a lovely tree, which was kinda weird being that we were in an Asian hotel. But as you can see it was tasteful. Now why did I go back later on in the week? Look under the tree....

Flanking the entrance were two boutiques. One, the uncompromising store of Asprey (the purple packages under the tree) and also Graff Diamonds. So I picked up a few things at the Asprey store saving myself a trip to New York or London. Then I went across the hall to talk to the manager of Graff diamonds where he showed me some great cufflinks and we discussed Graff's craftsmanship and he was great to talk about his collection of colored gems and diamonds on display.... one being an eight carat peridot ring from Africa the other.......some pink sapphire butterfly jewelry that would have looked good on my niece.

So when you travel, go into hotels and spaces even at places you're not staying. Have coffee, a drink, or just walk through. and learn, enjoy, absorb.

Enjoy the rest of the photos. the last three photos at the end are from the hotel's website where you can see the luxurious accomodations.

Happy New Year !

2011-01-03T18:46:00.001-08:00

This is a photo taken as the Orange reached the top.

Cheers, whistling ensued... wonderful!

Fireworks over Biscayne Bay at midnight.

I'm a little tardy in my New Year's wishes for my readers, but I've just returned from Miami Florida where I really rested and recharged.

The beach near where I was staying on New Years Day.

But with that I also was really inspired by design. Everything is designed. The sidewalks, the buildings even the clothing.

Friends I met while there...

In the next several weeks I'll share my experiences and I know you'll be inspired too.

My boutique hotel as taken from a lounge chair by the pool.

An Ornament of Friendship

2010-12-23T14:53:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I met Christopher Radko. I've learned a lot about him through our conversations, but also through his crisp descriptions and observations he writes about in the Huffington Post. I don't think he realizes I share a similar opinion of snow which you'll see below and knows exactly what he's talking about as I grew up on a farm. When asked to help me out with this Christmas Eve/Day blog entry I think Christopher feared all I wanted to talk about was Christmas ornaments (he sold the company that bears his name in 2005). I assured him that there was a lot more to talk about during the winter holiday season ... he agreed to help.

Q: In your Huffington Post articles you have this great description of fall that I really enjoyed reading. What do you love about winter?

For winter, I love the going within time... Time to recharge my batteries and prepare for the new year's cycle of spring... The shorter days give me time at home to catch up on projects, repairs, renovations and such, and also to cozy up to a good book with a glass of red wine...

[note, click here to check out Christopher's article at the Huffington Post's website]

Q: Does your border collie like winter?

Kyla, my ace border collie, who came to me as a thank you from the NYC FireDepartment after I had created a commemorative ornament for them after 911, loves all seasons. She loves the snow and digging in snow drifts to try to find the frisbee I just tossed... I love snow too, for the quiet it brings... but neither of us like shoveling...

Q: What is your favorite holiday tradition growing up?

My favorite tradition has to do with incorporating traditions from other cultures and from my ancestors into the basic American ones.. so 7 courses of fish on Christmas Eve, poppy seed and barley stew on Christmas Day, carols in French, Polish, and German... things like that, along side Rudolph and Frosty...

Traditional, seven-fish-course Christmas Eve fish dinner

La Vigilia di Natale, or Vigil of the Holy Night, when only fish and no meat is consumed.

Poppy seed and barley stew.

Q: When entertaining for the holidays, what do you do to make the time special?

For any holiday entertaining, I think a welcoming enthusiasm is key. Good drinks help, so do great decorations and food, but if your heart is not in it, it's just not as much fun.

To all my readers of Design Guy University™, thank you for a wonderful 2010. I'm off to a warmer climate for a few weeks but will return by visiting Chicago in mid-January meeting a friend from Toronto and some fellow designers in the windy city. I'll also preparing for a new set of my Design Guy University classes in the Spring and Summer in other U.S. cities (more later). I already know 2011 will be fantastic.

Merry Christmas, Season's Greetings, and to all a Happy New Year!

Best,

Scott

Merry Christmas y'all... Southern Style

2010-12-20T22:41:00.001-08:00

Christmas in the south can be a lot of fun. Be prepared with a lot of food, drink and a lot of laughs and good times. Ben South is nothing short of charming, smart and fun. Ben and I share a birthday, March 29th. He's a great friend and I just get inspired reading his southern ramblings about life, design, and anything else he writes... and it leaves me usually laughing my tail off. I couldn't think of a better time than the holidays than you introduce y'all to 'em.

Q: What do you like about the winter and the holiday season?

Southerners are sensualists. We didn't have Puritans down here, praise the Lord, so we eat more, drink more, dance more, anything that's pleasurable, Southerners do it more...Southern cooking really is some of the best in the world. On one groaning huntboard, you'll find African fried techniques, French sauces, British vegetable traditions added to great, garden bounty. Once the intense, Southern summer is over, the winter is a wonderful time for baked goods and heavier spices.

Southern houses have the smell of pine logs in the fireplace and... the sounds of a Southern season include hearty laughter, Elvis singing "Blue Christmas," and Brenda Lee "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

Q: What don't you like about this season?

Blase', perfunctory, obligatory shopping like you've got a gun to your hayyud. I like handmade gifts, thoughtfulness-on-steroids, imagination and tradition. Every year, amongst other gifts, my mother gives my more outdoorsy, younger brother a subscription to "Garden and Gun," this century's finest, Southern magazine and I get "The New Yorker." Please don't out me on my Yankee reading preference. To warm me after I was divorced a few years back, my siblings gave me gift certificates for soups and other comfort foods. Such thoughtful and nurturing gifts are hugely appreciated in the bleak midwinter.

Q: How does one decorate Southernness chic and fun?

First rule, it's gotta be clean. I grew up in the cleanest house in Alabama. Shining the silvuh is very much a Southern holiday tradition. We rub it til the copper is coming through. It's probably the most aerobic exercise I take on all year and it's fueled by eggnog, or more likely "nognog" and mama's fruitcake cookies... So, clean it and then green it. The actual decorating involves lots of evergreens and natural elements from the farm and sentimental family things saved from many decades. One Christmas decorating "No No," I do not like to have sacred things and pop culture Christmas in the same room. It seems sorta schizophrenic. I feel the same way about a Christmas music CD that has some mash up of "Frosty the Snowman" with "O Come All Ye Faithful." And, honestly, even though I grew up on a farm and we had hogs and horses, I don't like Christmas carols that involve livestock. "Away In A Manger?" No, thank you.

Antique silver with greenery (from Southern Living)

Q: What inspires you design-wise during the holidays?

The wit of Simon Doonan's windows at Barneys. Some huge, visual wonderment by Preston Bailey. Seeing a long-married couple holding hands around a shared mug of cider. The timeless table-scapes of my friend, Patrick Dunne, at his shop, Lucullus, in the French Quarter. The shiny, happy, sunniness of Angela Byrd's shop, Nest, in Little Rock. The historically inspired googaws at the great gift shop at the Atlanta History Center.

One of Barney's window displays in NYC

Buon Natale

2010-12-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

I was trying to figure out when I met the writer and garden designer Paul Gervais for the first time and really gave up because I couldn't remember. His partner Gil Cohen and I have been writing back and forth forever (he teaches English part time at a school). They both live in a beautiful 16th century hunting lodge on a hillside in Lucca called Villa Masei which they've lovingly restored, including the gardens. Paul is another gift of friendship and I'm so happy to share him with you this holiday season...

Villa Masei, home of garden designer Paul Gervais

Q: Paul, since you're a noted garden designer and have traveled all over, what garden would be wonderful to see in the winter?

A garden I love seeing under the snow is Chateau de Jonchet, the country home of Hubert de Givenchy. He designed the amazing parterre himself, a series of enourmous circles and in the snow it makes the most elegant impression. It's the great French garden reduced to essentials and it's almost zen in its peaceful simplicity.

Chateau de Jonchet

Q. Having lived in Italy for more than 20 years, what are some Italian Christmas traditions that you celebrate during the season?

Christmas in Italy is a bit more understated than it is on other parts of the world, but it's still a very festive time if not so decorated up as we do it. The evening walk through the narrow streets of Lucca, where I live, is a chance to see and greet all your friends and to stop together for an aperativo and an exchange of Christmas wishes.

Streets of Lucca

Q. Knowing that you grew up in the States, what are some personal Christmas traditions that you enjoy?

I always make my mother's lobster stew for Christmas eve and no one will allow me to give up the tradition. On Christmas day we have a long standing date at Villa Orlando and our great friend Marilu. It,s one of Lucca's most noble villas, an imposing 16th century house, and this is where we gather for a traditional capon meal with home made tortelli.

Villa Orlando

Q. What plants do you love to have in the house during the season?

While we always seem to have orchids in the house, at Christmas we fill vases with greens found in the woods. We pick myrtle and sweet bay and wild holly, with both white an red berries, and this is the kind of simple decoration that makes the season what it is for me.

Holiday Swank

2010-12-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

James Andrew at The Frick - photo by Justin Williams.

Several years ago when I started blogging I came across another blog entitled What is James Wearing featuring James Andrew, a New York interior designer. James designs homes as he dresses himself... impeccably. James and I have become friends over the years discussing everything from the joys of our pets to where to stay at the Amalfi Coast... he reminds me to be good to myself. It's not an idea of selfishness, but it's a way of respecting yourself and confidently living one's mantra of uncompromising design. The same message one conveys to one's clients. James is a gift to me and now I'm sharing him with all of you.

Q: You grew up on the East Coast, what were your favorite things to do during the holiday season?

We would go to the Newport mansions to see them decorated for Xmas- there was something quite magical about that.

Q: What is one of your favorite places to go in NYC for the holiday season for dinner or a night out?

The Four Seasons restaurant is one of my favs here in NYC for a festive holiday meal , for something more cozy I adore Waverly Inn; the Monkey Bar makes me feel like I have stepped back in time to an era that is oozing with glamour and elegance.

The Monkey Bar

Q: Since everyone knows you dress impeccably, if we were to go shopping and you'd dress me for a holiday party, what would you suggest?

A: It depends on the party - something dressed up but not formal - might be a tartan jacket, black jeans, white shirt and a black satin tie and velvet slippers, more dressed up - perhaps tartan wool slacks with a velvet dinner jacket , white tuxedo shirt and a fab bowtie, patent leather on your feet.

Bow ties by Tom Ford.

Q: How do you decorate your home for the holiday season; or do you?

A: I have clear glass containers planted with paper whites and white and red striped amaryllis and place them in my entrance hall and in my living room, along with vases with masses of red roses, I hang a monumental magnolia leaf wreath on the book case in my dining room and burn Rigaud Cypress candles , I set the table with over the top china, ruby red water goblets, tiny mercury glasses filled with mini bouquets with gilded poppy pods all very festive and glam.

Noël canadien

2010-12-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I think Americans forget about our northern neighbor, Canada ... especially this time of year when everyone is concentrating on going somewhere warm. Juliane Wilbee, owner of Norbridge Antiques, lives in Toronto, Ontario. We e-mail and talk on the phone all the time and I wanted to share a bit of her with all of you.

Q: You grew up in Montreal, what were your favorite winter activities growing up?

As all children in Montreal, I had ice skates from an early age and went skating regularly all winter. Because it stays consistently very cold in the winter, the city had ice rinks in most public parks. Skiing took over as my favourite activity when I received my first skis at the age of eight. The Laurentian mountain range is easily accessible just north of Montreal making ski day-trips very convenient. Some of my best memories are of my older brother who was nine years older than I taking me skiing when he was a teenager and young adult.

Q: Where is the best place in Toronto to go for a special holiday dinner or to get the food to prepare one at home?

For a special holiday dinner out, my favourite place is the Auberge du Pommier on Yonge Street just north of North Toronto. The restaurant from the outside looks like an old French cottage. I like a restaurant for its food, of course, but there are other factors that add to the pleasure of being there. The Auberge serves superb French food, the service is consistently excellent, it is always full of other patrons, and it is inviting. The decor is modern, but at the same time it gives you a feeling of timelessness.

I always prepare the meals at home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My first choice is Pusateri's, the local market, for the freshest meat, fish and other food.

Q: How do you like to decorate during the holiday season?

I like decorating with natural evergreens as much as possible. I always have a real tree, and find the Fraser fir to be the best for staying fresh. The ornaments are clear glass, a few are silver coloured, and a few are white. The tree lights are white. For practical reasons, I use a mixture of fake and real fir boughs for the mantel, and I add lots of fat white candles. Outdoors, I have fresh fir wreaths on the doors; I put little fresh fir trees in two urns on the patio, and fill the planters at the side door with fresh fir. I also use only white lights on the evergreens in the front and on the fir trees at the back. I use very little colour during the holiday season other than the green from the evergreens.

Q: As a purveyor of antiques, what is an antique you have at home that you love to have out during the holiday season?

May I tell you about two? The Dutch marquetry games table circa 1840 which I love is always there beside the fireplace. When I came upon it at an auction preview two years ago, I found it so beautiful I could not get it out of my mind. Whoever owned it before must have loved it as much as I do now, because it is in excellent condition.

detail, top of table when closed

I also want to tell you about the Birks Louis XV sterling silver flatware I found at an auction preview of a top auction house in Toronto when I was in my mid-twenties. I researched prices and decided on the price I would pay. Going to the auction was exciting. It was even more exciting to win this beautiful set of flatware, made circa 1917. The pattern itself goes back to the late 19th century and was also produced by other silver manufacturers. It is popular still and can be purchased new at Birks which is also called Birks & Mayors in the United States.

Christmas by the Bay

2010-12-09T00:47:00.000-08:00

I told you I was going to share my friends with you this holiday season. I want you to all meet Philip Bewley from San Francisco. Philip works at Therian & Co. Both of us share the love of beautiful things, but in addition, we appreciate the history of the object's existence. I speak with Philip from time to time over the phone ( we have a great time ) and recently I asked him to help me out with a holiday blog posting... enjoy!

Q: If we all lived in SanFrancisco like you do, what would you want us to all do or see during the holidays?

A: Well, I love looking at the city from different vantage points at night: The top of Telegraph Hill with Coit Tower illuminated, and the view of the city to Nob Hill with Grace Cathedral at the summit, the expanse to the lit towers and cables of the Golden Gate Bridge; the wall of skyscrapers seen from Potrero Hill with a light like a star on a Christmas tree surmounting the pyramid building, the Skyscrapers of the Embarcadero defined by lights along their length. The Bay Bridge strung with myriads of lights for the season; the top of Twin Peaks to take in the full expanse of the lights of the city and the necklace of lights encircling the bay beyond.

Q: Knowing I've been a good boy this year [laughs], what's the one thing Santa would bring me from Therien & Co?

I would present you with a gift of the Nawab, or the Nawab of Arcot to be exact. This CA 1790 ivory-inlaid miniature writing desk enriched by fine pen-work is an example of a small number of gifts given by the East Indian Nawab in the 18th century to European royalty.

You can find similar examples of your piece today in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and private collections such as belonging to HRH Windsor. A gift for a Queen!

It is interesting to note that the penwork reserves depict a kind of fantasy idea of the West that is as “exotic” as parallel imaginings of the storied East!

Anglo-Indian Inlaid Ivory and Pen-Work Miniature Writing Table

Of sandalwood; the rectangular cornice with single long apron drawer over two hinged doors enclosing fitted interior, centering four short drawers over base cabinet of one long drawer and slanted fall-front enclosing similarly fitted interior and raised on bracket feet; the whole enriched with floral and foliate decoration with reserves depicting pavilions and landscapes borrowed from Dutch and English engravings

Circa 1790 - Vizagapatam, India Overall dimensions: 25” wide x 11” deep x 31½” high

Q: You had shown me awhile back some vintage department store Christmas photos from SanFrancisco. What is one of your favorite memories growing up?

For anyone living in San Francisco (or surrounding the city, as I did growing up) we all went downtown before Christmas to look at the magical department store windows, the giant tree in Union square and to take in the ambiance of “The City”. This is how we referred to San Francisco in those days when we all read Herb Caen in the Chronicle (Don’t Call it ‘Frisco) and where we all dressed up, with my mother, aunt, and grandmother behatted and “begloved”, as it were. Gumps at the old location was where most presents were purchased. I remember watching the tree in the Nutcracker grow to the ceiling in a performance by the San Francisco ballet, and thinking I was so lucky to be there with my family in the most beautiful city in the world.

The rooftop of the old Emporium store with rides.

A vintage shot of the Christmas tree in the City of Paris San Francisco store.

Q: What decor do you have in your home during the holiday season you enjoy the most?

Two years ago I would have told you about ornaments and the like, but since then my mother was very ill, and has since made a remarkable recovery! It was she who has made Christmas so special for all of us over the years, so, the fact that we will all be together as a family this Christmas is the most joyous thing of all!

Christmas Chic

2010-12-05T14:59:00.000-08:00

The holiday season makes me realize how lucky I am to have the friends I do and be appreciative of the talent around which I'm surrounded.

I've been friends with Jennifer Boles, Contributing Editor at House Beautiful and the founder of the blog The Peak of Chic for a few years. We caught up the other day and I asked her some questions that she allowed me to share with all of you…

ST: Jennifer, it’s the holidays and although it doesn’t get too cold in Atlanta, what do you like about winter and the holiday season?

JB: Taking a deep breath of cold air (it’s becoming a rarity down here!). Good for the lungs. Classic Christmas music by Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, and Johnny Mathis. Very fragrant candles redolent of pine and spice. Eating and drinking too much and not feeling guilty about it.

ST: What DON’T you like?

JB: Wreaths on the front grills of cars. Newfangled Christmas music by Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and the like.

ST: As a perveyor of everything chic, how do you like to decorate for the holidays?

JB: I keep it pretty traditional, tailored, and classic. Traditional greenery, white lights (though to be perfectly honest I prefer colored lights. Sacrilege, I know), paper whites, red taper candles. I avoid anything too theatrical. I also like those pretty pale pink-y poinsettias that are kind of hard to find and amaryllis. Now that I live in a high-rise, I stick to a wreath and garland on the mantel. Getting a tree up in the elevator is too difficult, so I leave that for my parents’ house. And lately I’ve been burning the Ralph Lauren Holiday Candle, which is to die for.

ST: What inspires you design-wise during the holiday?

JB: I suppose that my holiday inspiration over the last two years has come from Tiffany Christmas (the John Loring book from about a decade ago?) and Nigella’s Christmas cookbook from last year. Those holiday cocktails in there are really good…and lethal too.

Writing and the Season of Love

2010-12-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

I put an ad in a holiday concert program every year and the headline for this year’s ad was 'Celebrating the Season of Friends, Family and Love' coupled with a lovely picture of a tree I decorated for a client. I thought about that all day and decided to reveal something personal with all of you that I hope you will share with others.

Not that long ago I had lost my job as a Creative Director at an ad agency, like so many others, the tragic year of 9-11. Within a year I ran out of savings, lost every possession I had … I didn’t have money for food. It was very serious. That year for Christmas I wasn’t able to purchase gifts, but decided to give a special gift to everyone … a special gift of love.

With pen in hand I wrote a note to everyone on my Christmas list. I revealed one loving memory I had of time spent with the person to whom the letter was addressed. Topics ranged from a special dinner, a pillow fight, a meaningful conversation, a trip shared and a time that one was there for the other. Whatever the memory, I wrote it down. Each letter was carefully thought about, written and sealed. It was the best Christmas I ever had.

As a successful interior designer now, I’m known as a purveyor of things. But I'm reminded in this holiday season as we all long for our troops to be safe, the bullying of people and children stopped, the end of foreclosures and job loss, that I concentrate on what really matters: Friends, Family and Love.

Monday, I’ll share someone special in my life as through her friendship I’ve received bounties of encouragement, designer insight, and lots of laughter. I can’t wait to share her with you.

Bead Brilliance

2010-12-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

Kim Seybert with her dog, Sophie

(photo from Diane James Home)

Always looking for that fresh way to dress up a table setting, I often go to Neiman Marcus. They always have the right thing. This time I met up with Jamie Thurston, the Galleries manager of the St. Louis store, and we looked at Kim Seybert's new line.

Table settings used to be predictable, conservative and traditional... well.. not so much now thanks to Kim. Branded as "Designer Lifestyle Accessories" on her website, the uncompromising detail and craftsmanship of her product line coupled with great designs leave the competition under the table... leaving hers on top for everyone to enjoy!

In fact, Kim Seybert will be at Neiman Marcus Dec. 8th at 10:30 am. for brunch. She will be doing a presention on holiday table setting. Everyone should go! I hope to be there to meet her!

I love these Oval Bead Burst napkin rings. It's like fireworks right there on your table.

The close up of the Oval Bead Burst napkin ring shows the detail... unmatched anywhere else.

This is my favorite. Used for a non-traditional table for the holidays or even for a glamorous New Years, this paisley beaded Cher placemat is like no other. I used the greek key napkin with the Spider beaded napkin ring Kim designed.

Check out the detail. All handmade.

I love the beaded frames used to enhance the look when a plate is placed atop. The napkins are beautifully embroidered. The Sprig Napkin Ring is from the holiday collection.

Here I used one of her napkins and a Gum Drop Napkin Ring. The plates? I chose Vietri china made in Italy... the perfect thing for casual or formal dining.

Stay tuned... more fun holiday factoids, history, and cameo appearances by special guests this holiday season!!

Holiday Greetings...

2010-11-28T20:14:00.000-08:00

It's been a whirlwind of client and personal projects since my last posting on the 8th of November... where does the time go? Can you believe Thanksgiving has come and gone already? It's December 1st and I'm still full from that Thanksgiving meal... how about you?

Right before Thanksgiving I finished decorating a large house for some clients that I've been working with for the past 8 years and I'm so excited to share these photos with you...

Over 8' long, this mantle shows the Three Wiseman on their journey. It is decorated with glittered pinecones, gold branches and berries.

This is probably my favorite arrangement. A white container, bought specifically to reflect the texture of the white pinecones nestled in the mantle greenery, holds green apple sprays, winter flocked greenery, winterberries and white amaryllis.

This 24' foot tree steals the show. Containing 4000 lights, the tree takes 3 days to completely decorate and a few days to assemble. Decorated from the balcony first and turned as necessary, it is pulled to the center of this archway and finished with ladders.

Think the tree skirt is too small? You're right. What I'm not showing which arrived later are nine, large poinsettias which surround the base of the tree.

Stay tuned as I'm having some friends come and visit Design Guy University and share the holiday season with us. Some of them you'll recognize, some you'll want to know more about. All of them you'll love... just like I do. Keep tuned as my friends share the holidays with you.

Happy Holidays.

Scott

Flower Power

2010-11-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

Even though we've been fortunate with great weather, I was feeling low last week hearing news about the not-so-great diagnosis and health of a dear friend's mother who is also a client of mine. To help cheer myself, I went to the wholesale flower market which is a quick, 15-minute walk from the house. With a little commentary, I'll share what I found. As you can see... Nature always sustains. Val was on my mind the entire time.

The photo turned out a little watermelon, but this Fresia was actually orange and yellow. Stunning and the perfect plant for Thanksgiving.

Christmas is around the corner which is usually where you see these lime-colored cyprus trees, but the rosemary topiary can be enjoyed all year round. In a terra-cotta pot, I could see this on any bountiful Thanksgiving table.

These are terrific by themselves in a huge bunch or as accents.

Commonly known as pincushion plant, these come in several colors... they also had gold.

Peonies are available here year round. These probably need black ants to open the blossoms (or so my grandmother would say)

I bought several of these creatures. Found in their natural form in either light pink or a natural color, these have been dyed. Quite large, it took only eight to fill a large iron container and I added some fill. I bought one in every color. Although one of the common names is a banana flower, it actually looks nothing like any banana flowers at all.

At the holidays, I love citrus fruit. These meyer lemon trees are fantastic in pots on either side of a fireplace, a single one in a bay window, or even in a kitchen. The lemons can be used; I personally would slice them and dry them for holiday decoration along with some orange slices.

This is just one of the greenhouses on floral row. Filled to the brim, this is a fraction of what was available. This shot doesn't reflect the huge selection just in this one area. Poinsettias are already available as Christmas is only 50 days away with me starting to decorate houses for the holiday starting the 20th of November.

Flophouse to Fab?

2010-11-02T23:24:00.000-07:00

The Fairmont Hotel always amazes guests with lux surroundings found nowhere else but atop Nob Hill in San Francisco. But even the best needs a bit of refreshing now and then. Last week Champalimaud Design learned they won the category "Interior Design, USA" for the 2010 Americas Property Awards. Why? For the stunning and I mean STUNNING 'refreshing' of the 6,000-square-foot suite that spans the ENTIRE eighth floor of the hotel's historic main building.

Amazingly, the space was originally designed as a personal residence in the '20s by archeologist and expert on Persian art Arthur Upham Pope.

The three-bedroom extravaganza features a vaulted billiards room entirely covered in floor-to-ceiling Persian tiles, a sweeping two-story circular library featuring a gold-leaf rotunda and a dining room that seats ONLY 60 at full-capacity.

Flophouse indeed.

Japan made me do it...

2010-10-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite places to go while in New York is the Museum of the City of New York. Located on 5th avenue, it's a stones throw away where I usually am so I'm always drawn to enter it's doors.

From previous posts, you know how I get all excited about museums, so I wanted to share the upcoming event... you will want to go I'm sure.

On November 3rd, design expert and author, Phil Patton, Chay Costello, the Manager of MoMA retail and Adam Glickman, formally of Tokiton magazine [could it get any better?] the three will discuss the progression, prevalence, and production of the familiar, everyday objects that were born from New York and Japan’s enduring legacy of cultural design exchange.

Japan has been an influence on artists/designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Tiffany as well as the now-popular manga and anime. I think it will be a great talk and certainly worth your while.

I should mention, this is in conjunction with the not-to-be-missed exhibition Samurai in New York: The First Japanese Delegation, 1860 [showing through November 7th].

Reservations required: 917-492-3395 or e-mail programs@mcny.org.

$6 museum members; $8 seniors and students; $12 non-members

And the best part???

$6 when you mention Design Guy University [thanks!]

A yarn about quality...

2010-10-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

Holland & Sherry is perhaps one of the best clothiers in the world. Hand tailoring garments out of the most luxurious wool known. Their suits as well as the well-crafted handmade shirts, would proudly hang in anyone's closet. Impeccable detailing.

A few years ago I was drawn into a showroom where in the small, well appointed space, stood this sofa with elaborate embroidery. Restrained in what could have been an explosion of thread was an example of finely, layered cut wool precisely stitched together to create a remarkable detail on what would otherwise be a rather plain sofa.

I was standing in Holland & Sherry. Knowing they made exquisite shirts/suits since the 1830s (they also provided the cloth for costumes for Mission Impossible and Moulin Rouge) I was a little surprised to find a Showroom bearing the same name. Eric, the showroom manager, confirmed it was the same company.

The showroom provides examples of fabric, embroidery, accessories and wallpaper. I chose some items to show... so please enjoy:

Merchandise Mart Trip!

2010-10-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Click below to see the great new trip I've devised for Design Guy University. For only $149.00 visit the Merchandise Mart in Chicago for two whole days going behind the scenes just like a real interior designer. See what's new, see what's in, see the new trends before they hit the retail market.

Be in the know with this great trip. Please join me! Call 314.761.5740 for more information

or to reserve your seat today!

Classic French

2010-10-02T01:38:00.000-07:00

I was at a friends house today enjoying the sun shine, the fresh air and also a glass of wine out on the outdoor patio. The coming of fall.... it was reminding me of France. Fall is I think the best time to visit France because, like certain parts of the United States, it's ideal for walking about and enjoying the colorful autumn leaves. My favorite areas are Strasbourg, the Loire Valley, or Mountsegur (the later actually the best for fall in my opinion). With all this I was thinking: Pierre Deux.

If you're not familiar with Pierre Deux, it's such classic french country. You just can't go wrong. Perusing the website, I found new things as well as some old favourites:

From the Grand Salon collection, this is just gorgeous. Teildras Gold Wall paper. It's so versatile, so many colors in it. It can be paired with most anything.

Bureau bente, or a slant-top writing desk... this one is fashioned after one from the home of Madame Hedwidge Cointreau de Bouteville (the President and Creative Director of Pierre Deux). I can see myself writing a traditional note as well as checking out my iPad doing online banking and writing emails.

I love these new green glass candle sticks. I would french wire one for a lamp or just gather a bunch of them. They're so great for all-year round... and the color is perfect to use for Christmas too.

I'm totally in love with this new fabric called Bijou. This is the red, but it comes in different colorways. So fantastic.. it's a small, but great print. Perfect for anything.... especially reminding me of this perfect beginning-0f-fall day.

Double D of Decorating

2010-09-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Dorothy Draper was a pioneer of Interior Design. Creating her own firm in the 20s (it's still in operation under the leadership of Carleton Varney) she actually broke away from period design which was the norm, and established interior design as an actual art form.

During her lifetime she had regular articles in Good Housekeeping on interior decorating, designed fabrics for Shumacher&Co. as well as being the choice designer for corporations, restaurants, retail stores and of course, high-end interiors. In 2006, The Museum of the City of New York [not to be confused with the Metropolitan Museum of Art] had a retrospective of her work, the first ever exhibit focusing on an interior designer.

Her signature look was the large cabbage roses and the augmented, over-sized plaster reliefs on furniture and over doorways as well as her classic shiny black and white furniture and interior spaces.

I was at a friend's studio and noticed the Kindle furniture catalogue and remembered the company was creating reproductions of her furniture. Without commentary on these pieces, I thought I'd share a few photos of my favorites that are available. Enjoy!

[S]Mart Shopping

2010-09-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

[Merchandise Mart, Chicago]

Coming up in October... is the opportunity for you to join me and Design Guy University™ for a tour of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago!! It will be so much fun!!

In the next week I'll be finalizing a schedule to visit the largest commercial building in the world containing some of the world's best interior design treasures (see below).

Interested? Just email me at tjadeninteriors@yahoo.com (or respond to your email if you're a subscriber). A full announcement-invitation with details is coming soon!

[shown: the south lobby featuring 17 murals by Jules Guerin]

Very abbreviated history... the Merchandise Mart in Chicago has long been the resource mecca for interior designers for decades. Built by the Marshall Field family, the Mart opened in 1930. Changing hands a few times, it was the single-largest Kennedy family real-estate holdings until 1998 when it was bought by a New York holding company. Chris Kennedy still manages the property. I love the Art Deco interiors.. the elevator doors... oh wow.. wait 'til you see them.

Because it's so large, the 25-floor building has it's own zip code. It contains some of the world's best showrooms including Scalamandré, Kohler, Janis Et Cie, Osborn and Little, Odegard, David Sutherland, Baker, Donghia, Summer Hill (a final list of what we're visiting will be announced later).... whew.. I'm outta breath...just to name a few. If you see products in any decent design magazine, chances are you can find those things here. (note: the Sultan of Brunei spent close to $1.7M in furnishings for his own palace saying "it was the only place in the world where one could shop and get everything done in a week... "

We'll spend 1-1/2 days here at this great place. I hope you're able to come, it will be late October, date to come within a week.

Couture Cover Up

2010-09-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

[Adena Pin Ring, ca 1799, Paris.]

I have a design board going right now and I needed some spectacular wall covering as this small bedroom needed some ultimate drama and thinking for one wall (although I would love to do the whole thing) I needed something ultimately special.

Adelphi historic wall papers were exactly the ticket. Available only through designers I knew my clients wouldn't be seeing this all about the town giving them a unique, custom look. The patterns are historically correct reproductions of old patterns, but available in the original color plus some new ones they developed.

Enjoy, because as you'll see good design is good design and to me, they're classic and can be for any home traditional or modern.

The designer of this pattern, Grove, has not yet been identified. Mysterious, I love the stylized trees and figures. Note from their website: "This pattern is licensed to Adelphi Paper Hangings by the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution."

The Bees and Stars pattern, ca 1805, was created when geometrics were at the height of popularity having originated in France and migrating to the United States.

L'Oiseau Moderne is illustrated in an advertisement by its American importer, W.H.S. Lloyd Company, in the March 1930 issue of The House Beautiful. I love the yellow and black birds and vegetation. Art Deco all the way.

Philadelphia Harlequin was probably designed by Anthony Chardon around 1790, a sample of it was found in the lining of a trunk (in two colorways) , the other sample owned by The National Parks Service supposedly coming from a residence near Independence Park. Can you believe it was created that long ago? Gorgeous.

Lalique kicks (gl)ass.

2010-09-04T20:06:00.001-07:00

[Lalique Oak Chandelier]

After my incredible visit to Kohler a few weeks ago, I decided to stay in Chicago before returning home. While there I went to the new Lalique designer showroom located in the Merchandise Mart... my home away from home.

I was met by Bonnie Rhodes, the showroom manager at Lalique who gave me an impromptu tour. She was so knowledgeable about the product and expert at Lalique history. What a complete honor it was to work with her.

This vase was so amazing in person, I had to touch it. Created originally in the 1920s the celebrates the Langudoc vase was meant to celebrate the vegetation found in the south of France.

Figure and Grape Panels. Designed originally for the Orient Express, these are available as one or multiple panels. Awhile back I saw these panels in a design by a Chicago designer in panels for a concealed media center in one of the designer rooms for Dream House. Another option is that of them being clear or a lustre back (a process known only to Lalique so no illumination from behind is needed). While there I saw in the Lalique catalogue (which found its way home with me) a photograph of a modern, outdoor shower using the panels for accent. Gorgeous.

The Turtle Vase. This vase is marvelous. Perfect size for anything like a dining room table, a centerpiece on a coffee table... even the best item to place one or several flowers into. Made as a limited edition of under 1000.

This light, the Seville sconce took my breath away. Available with or without the black accent (it would also be available as clear crystal), the sophisticated light would sparkle any ole space in a grand style.

But what you may not know, is that Lalique acquired Daum and Haviland China. There were so many great examples there... I'll save those for another post. Don't you just want to have all of these great things?

Design: the Swedes have it

2010-08-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

Long held as a major design center, I wanted to share just three of the many gorgeous things I found during my very short, but memorable stay in Sweden.

Waldemarsudde flower pot. I had to get some of these... excellent design they were designed by Prince Eugen in 1914. Although now created in five sizes, the original smaller size was created to fit under his mother's Portrait in the living room at Waldemarsudde (a palace now museum). Gustavsberg is the manufacturer and the only place you can buy it is at the Museum shop there or its online store. I had mine sent, but be careful, shipping is very expensive. The online store shows you how much shipping is.

Sandberg fabrics. Although they have showrooms in NY and 49 other showrooms all over the world, I had to get a fix. The pattern I love is Asta shown here in black. The pattern below is Kina Slott. Kina Slott is the Chinese Pavilion at Drottingholm Palace, the residence of the Royal Family of Sweden.

CPB 2091 Silver Collection designed by HRH Prince Carl (Carl Bernadotte). Carl's design for the infamous silver company MEMA/GAB (founded 1849) includes a 7-piece place setting, a cake server and, new this year, a silver cup. Bernadotte, the family name, isn't new to design. The Prince's great uncle, Sigvard Bernadotte, was a designer for many years for the Danish silver firm Georg Jenson ( I have a few cuff links of his) and Christineholm China.

What I did on Summer Vacation

2010-08-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

Recently I witnessed history, the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and HRH Prince Daniel. An unfortunate arrangement with Associated Press and other world news agencies prevented most Americans to view live the wedding that captivated Sweden and Europe this summer. Over 500 thousand people came out to the streets of Stockholm to celebrate as well as millions of viewers on live Swedish television.

You may be wondering what was the big deal. Another Royal Wedding. What did this wedding have a particular grip on people?

A commoner became a Prince because of love.

[these are the stamps I picked up while there]

Against tradition, Victoria fell in love with a commoner and with the help of the Royal Family, Daniel Westling, a gym owner, was transformed into a Royal Prince. It was the stuff that Cinderella stories were made of, but with a gender role-reversal. Victoria, with the help from her mother, convinced the King that the couple should marry. Through two years of intense training, Daniel learned four languages, became expert in Swedish history, and polished up his long hair rebel looks.

In a surprise announcement, King Gustaf announced that Daniel would hold the title HRH after the wedding. A commoner has never become a Royal in Sweden's history.

At the Royal Banquet, Victoria thanked the Citizens of Sweden for giving her Prince to her. In return, Prince Daniel told a story where Victoria had come home very late (they'd been living together) and stayed up all night before traveling abroad on an official engagement working. Why? The reason was revealed when he found a box with his name on it. Inside, a love letter for every day she'd be gone. She had stayed up all night writing. [insert crying here]

Princess Victoria is wearing the Crown her mother wore on her wedding day. The crown was a gift from Napoleon to Empress Josephine. Carved cameos line the crown which becametranslucent in the light as she walked past.

Each cake tier was the clover repeated as the Crown logo for the event. (see the 2010 clover logo on the cars below).

One note. The King stood to toast the newly married couple surprised the dinner guests with a speech about his own marriage to the Queen. The pair were married the same day 34 years earlier. Plucking a rose from the centerpiece he walked over to her, kissed her hand saying he loved her. Surprised and touched, you could tell Queen Silvia was holding back tears as the guests exploded with applause. He then congratulated Victoria and Daniel on their special day.

Wedding guests included the Royal Families of Europe including the Queen of Denmark, Netherlands, and the King and Queen of Norway and their Children. Prince Albert was there with a date... Charlene Wittstock, an Olympic swimmer for S.Africa... which was highly unusual... however, a few weeks later rumors from the evening were supported as it was announced he was going to marry her. Queen Elizabeth of England did not attend; however, her son, The Earl of Wessex and his wife took her place.

Princess Victoria's Siblings (above) were of course in attendance. Prince Carl an artist and race car driver, has a degree in Graphic Communication and recently has designed a set of silver objects which I'll share in a later post. Years ago Carl's interned at National Geographic in Washington D.C. (His sister, Victoria interned at the United Nations).

Princess Madeline was wearing a tiara owned by Victoria I of Sweden. What I thought was endearing was that her broach was a miniature of her father created when he became King.

Madeline called off her own engagement earlier on this year.

The flowers were donated by the government of Colombia. What you cannot see in this photo are the strands of flowers suspended from the ceiling hugging the clover-shaped pillars of the Cathedral.

The childhood home of the King, Haga Castle (above) is the new residence of Victoria and Daniel. Ownership of the castle was given to the state in 1966 by the King for official government use. The Prime Minister gave the house back to the Royal family in 2009 as a wedding gift from the people of Sweden upon the engagement announcement. The King personally spent US$5.3m to update the house for use by the Royal Couple as it had not been updated in nearly 50 years.

Below are the countless souvenirs/gifts one could buy while there. A portion of the proceeds of all sales go to the Royal Wedding Foundation, a charity for children.

Volvo created a series of white cars emblazoned with the Royal Wedding insignia on the side of the cars. The same logo embroidered onto the seats. The Royal family leased the cars from Volvo to transport wedding guests to/from the wedding, but also around where the guests liked during their stay in Stockholm.

Afterwards, the cars were auctioned off to raise money for the Royal Couples' Wedding Foundation, a children's charity mentioned earlier.

Stockholm's re-branding “The City of Love” was an entire year of celebration including interviews with Swedish couples on the website sweden.se. Coincidentally, June marked the one-year anniversary of gender-neutral weddings.

Friends of the Royal Couple, singer Peter Jöback danced with his partner, gym instructor OscarNilsson, at the party following the Royal Banquet. Peter performed at the Royal Concert that took place the evening before the wedding.

John Paul Young's song Love is in the Air states ".... Love is in the air, every where I look around... Every sight and every sound..."

And for a day in Sweden's history, love was definitely in the air.