Tony Duquette's Dawnridge

I know everyone says they are over Tony Duquette now but in case you're not, you can watch this video from Style.com where author and estate manager Hutton Wilkinson gives jewelry maker Liz Goldwyn the grand tour of the design legend's Beverly Hills estate. It's worth checking out just to see the vintage jewelry from the archives that Liz gets to try on!

Shop in Style

When I go to Paris for my birthday, I am definitely going to have to stop at the divinely beautiful Dries Van Noten boutique at 7 Quai Malaquais. It feels more like a home than a shop and has been described as "an expression of the Belgian designer's aesthetic that is a paradigm for our fashion times: an original, one-off store in which everything from a gleaming marble console to a stalwart 1970s desk appeals to the senses."

"It was a dream opening in this location," said Van Noten, referring to the spacious, high-ceilinged former bookstore and its view across the river to the Louvre."

"I wanted it to be extremely luxurious with the atmosphere of a neighborhood," he said. "It is something very personal. And I wanted to respect the place. Who am I to change it? I want to keep it and treasure it and pass it on to the next generation."

Many of the eclectic objects that Van Noten and his partner Patrick Vangheluwe have garnered have been from flea markets and lend a warm and inviting atmosphere to the store. In addition, there are many other beautiful pieces such as, a sky-blue sofa from America, a baroque bridge table that once belonged to the aesthete Charles de Bestegui, a Chinese bird of paradise patterned rug, Ottoman velvet pillows from the 1920s, a decorative Italian screen, a Napoleon III boulle table and intriguing pieces from Belgium. They include a 1950s abstract painting by Marc Mendelson in the same pistachio green as the silk curtains surrounding a tiny glass conservatory-cum-boudoir.

I first fell in love with Dries Van Noten after I saw photos from his anniversary dinner and fashion show that was held for 500 guests in Paris in 2004. The setting was a factory on the outskirts of Paris, and the table measured 450 feet in length. It was set with linen and flatware for three courses. Above were chandeliers, casting a milky beam in the dark room, and behind the guests stood an army of waiters, many of whom, like the caterers, were brought from Antwerp, where Mr. van Noten lives. At the end of the evening he gave each guest a hardbound book covering his 50 collections that was produced at his own expense.

"He said before the show that he had always wanted to have everyone sit down at long table and have the models walk the linen between the main course and dessert. And what's the point of reaching a milestone, as a self-made designer, if you can't mark it with a banquet?" Amen!

Reader Request

I'm hoping one of my design obsessed readers can help out Jen who emailed me about finding the pendant lamp that she saw at the J. Crew store in Palm Desert, California. When she called the store, they were less than helpful and said they couldn't remember where they bought it and suggested Lamps Plus which Jen and I both checked to no avail. I also checked all of my sources and came up with nothing.

My first thought was that maybe it was vintage before she told me that it was in the J. Crew store which she said looked very Hollywood Regency and not like any other usual Preppy looking store. But it doesn't look like anything else I've seen available that's new. If anyone has any idea where this lamp is from, Jen and I would really appreciate your help because now she has me obsessed with where it came from too! Thanks!

***UPDATE*** The lamp has been found thanks to Breck who suggested Remains Lighting and Liisa who actually found it online. Here is the link, http://www.remains.com/item_HL2617.18.aspx. I know Jen and a few other readers who emailed me will be very excited! I knew you guys could do it! Thanks!

Weekend Escape

When I opened the Escapes section of The New York Times on Friday, the last thing I was expecting to find was a design feature about the weekend retreat of one about the city's most interesting couples, Derek and Michelle Sanders. He owns his own architecture firm that has designed the interiors of The Standard Hotel in LA and my favorite restaurant in New York, La Esquina, which is also co-owns. She used to be an editor at Vogue before leaving to work for Juicy Couture, Miu Miu and Donna Karen where she is now SVP of DK Collection accessories.


I profiled their New York apartment when I first started my blog but for those of you who missed it, you can check it out here. You can see similarities in the apartment and the rural retreat three hours north of the city in the use if white but I really like how they decorated the converted old barn with more rustic and country looking furniture. It really fits the space.

It looks like the place is still a work in progress in some areas. The floor in the living room appears to be just painted plywood while the kitchen has wide plant hardwood floors. I personally would have liked it if they had anchored the living room seating arrangement with some kind of rug but maybe they are still searching for one. I could see a braided rug fitting in perfectly in this space.

I think the large flag lends a nice Americana feel to the place. I wish the article had shown more photos but it was still fun to peak inside and see what this creative couple has been up to lately. It would also be nice if they would grant me access to the super secret VIP reservation number to La Esquina since I've written about them twice. I wonder who I need to talk to about that.

Six Degrees

I had a bunch of fun stuff to write about and couldn't wait to post about them all separately so I've compiled them all here. I couldn't think what to name it though until I realized that they could probably all be linked in some way like Six Degrees of Separation. No matter what it's named, I hope you enjoy it.

Speaking of names, how could I not love a band above named Chester French after the famous sculptor Daniel Chester French. You may have already heard one of their most popular songs, She Loves Everybody, on Entourage. They also happen to be 21-year old Harvard educated rockers. Not something you hear everyday. They remind me of every cute preppy I ever dated and although I fear that maybe I'm a bit too old to have a crush on them and their music, I'll play Demi to their Ashton any day. I might also like them just because of their cheekily titled song The Jimmy Choo's. I guarantee you're going to be hearing more from these boys now that they graduated and signed with Pharrell Williams's record label.

Pharrell Williams also happens to be friends with Marc Jacobs who is the subject of a somewhat new documentary, Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton, by Loic Prigent who was granted unprecedented access to one of the world's hottest and busiest designers. You can also play spot the celebrity as you watch it as many of Marc's famous friends like Sophia Coppola, Victoria Beckham, Catherine Deneuve, and many others make appearances. The DVD has been on sale at Collette in Paris but will be released in the US on February 26th. It will also be broadcast on the Sundance Channel in February. I'll keep you posted as to the exact date.

I'm not exactly sure if Marc Jacobs is friends with Sohie Dahl but I can imagine it's possible since she used to model. They were also both featured in the book Rare Birds but in April, Ms. Dahl will have her own book published entitled Playing with the Grown-ups. Vogue calls the book “A poetic love story…part Love in a Cold Climate, part Edith Sitwell and part any one of her grandfather Roald Dahl’s books.” With a pedigree like hers, I think we can safely assume that it might be worth checking out.

Now this one is harder. Best I can come up with is that everyone's favorite artist, Elliott Puckette is married to the artist Hugo Guinness who is British just like Sophie Dahl. If anyone can make a better connection, feel free to let me know. Anyway, Ms. Puckette/Mrs. Guinness is having an exhibition at the Paul Kasmin Gallery beginning January 24th, that I for one am definitely excited to check out. The images aren't up on the site yet so it will be interesting to see what she's been up to and if she's been experimenting with her style at all.

This one is much easier. Elliott Puckette is also represented by Danziger Projects and so is Scott Schuman, otherwise known as The Sartorialist who will be having his own exhibition this month at Danziger. The Sartorialist has to be one of the most popular blogs of all time and it will be fun to see his images printed out and displayed instead of on the computer monitor.

On a funny note, Danziger Gallery was founded by James Danziger who is married to Lucy Danziger, the editor-in-chief of Self magazine and their summer home was featured in the May 2007 issue of Domino magazine where their Elliott Puckette painting was on display on the mantle. I think my work here is done.

Chic in Chicago

Thanks to a recommendation from Decorno, I checked out the wonderful blog Brown Turtleneck Sweater who recently profiled the assistants to Nate Berkus. The duo were featured in the new issue of Chicago Home + Garden which led me to the website where that story wasn't up yet but where I did find the super chic Chicago condo of architect David Ries.

David reconfigured the walls as any architect would be want to do and opened the space up to give it a more expansive feel and a view of the lake and Wrigley Field.

The article touts the condo as a small space but compared to New York standards, it's practically a McMansion. I think the best part is the "white space" that gives your eye a place to rest. Judicious editing is the hardest thing to get right in interior design and it's something I'm struggling with right now in my shoebox sized apartment since I have a penchant for collecting.

Lying in bed at night, Ries’s view is of a painting in the living room, “Three Seeds,” by Chicago artist Jenny Miller, a friend. I wish more people took the time to think things through like Reis and how sight lines should be integrated into their design.

"A lover of flea markets, Ries found this painting at the Chicago Antique Market on Randolph Street. Because the canvas is a standard size, he was able to find a perfect frame on the cheap in Artists’ Frame Service’s clearance department." His tablescape reminds me of those of Ron Marvin and are just as perfectly composed.

David reconfigured the apartment so that the living room opens onto the bedroom with French doors, he made two small spaces feel like one big one.

The antique scooter on the kitchen wall can serve as a shelf and adds a bit of whimsy. When extra seating isn’t needed a chair becomes a plant stand and the grasscloth looking wallpaper creates another focal point and defines the kitchen/dining area.

Inexpensively framed mirrors make real impact when hung in a grid pattern above a rustic dining table the folds down to conserve space and out to accommodate a large dinner party.

I love this condo because it's not too cluttered and looks like it would appeal to men and women. I hope Small Spaces, Big Style finds David Reis soon because he certainly has created great style in a so-called small space. And he definitely makes me want to find a bigger apartment soon!

Oh, and kudos to Chicago Home + Garden for their great website. I will definitely be adding them to my list of chic websites and you should too!

New Year, New You!

Right about now, you might be feeling like something the cat dragged in but it's the perfect time to take stock of 2007 and what you want to accomplish in 2008. For me, 2007 wasn't the worst year but it certainly wasn't the best. On the positive, I started my blog and met many amazing people. On the negative, I dated some not so great guys.

So here are my New Year's Resolutions:

1. I resolve to date better in 2008. How I managed to date two men with serious drinking problems last year is beyond me but that won't happen again. Oh, and to the one I know who still reads my blog, I have one word for you...karma. And you better hope I don't run into you in the grocery store ever again because I might just run you over with my cart next time.
2. I resolve to cut back on the diet coke in 2008. I don't do drugs or smoke so in the scheme of things, if diet coke is my worst vice, I think I'm doing okay but I know I should cut back a little.
3. I resolve to go out more in 2008. I do a lot in New York but when you live alone, it's easy to loose motivation to go out sometimes. This year, I will not let myself get sucked into watching reruns of The Hills when I can be out doing something fantastic!
4. I resolve to go to yoga more in 2008. I love yoga but I hate my gym so this year, I'm going to cancel my gym membership and find a yoga studio near my apartment so I have no excuse not to go when it's cold and rainy.
5. I resolve to take a class in 2008. I always say I'm going to do this but never do so this year I will try to take a refresher course in French, finally learn CAD and how to make jewelry. Oh, and maybe a watercolor class too but that might be pushing it.
6. I resolve to get my tear sheets organized in 2008. I have a million tear sheets sitting in cute little boxes under my couch and bed but when I can never find an article when I go to look for it so I will definitely need to come up with a new system.
7. I resolve to cut back on the shopping in 2008. I already have a closet stuffed with clothes I don't wear so I'm going to clean it out and sell what I can on eBay and stop buying things I don't need. Good thing I bought those super on sale Christian Louboutin flats at Barney's yesterday when it was still 2007 ;-)
8. I resolve to finish one book before buying another in 2008. This is probably my worst vice. I am always in the middle of at least two books at once and sometimes I never end up finishing them but this needs to stop. I also need to get rid of some books because I'm running out of space for them! But I did make room for one more, Write It Down, Make It Happen, and you should too!

In addition to making resolutions this year, I'm going to take a page out of Patricia Gray's book and write down what I want to happen in 2008. So here goes...

1. I will find a new job in 2008. I think you already know this one but it's my number one goal for the new year. I've had a few people approach me but now I plan to contact everyone I know and start networking like there's no tomorrow. I know that I will find something this year whether it's working for a great designer or a magazine because I am going to make it happen!
2. I will find a new boyfriend in 2008. There has got to be one normal single man in New York who appreciates art and design and who isn't gay and I know this is the year I will find him! If anyone knows any who are in the 30-40 year old range, feel free to send them my way! I'm currently accepting applications.
3. I will spend my birthday in Paris in 2008. This was my plan last year but that never ended up happening so even if I have to go by myself, I'm going. But perhaps my new boyfriend would want to spend a long weekend in Paris this April. Or maybe I should organize a blogger weekend away. If anyone wants to go to Paris, let me know.
4. I will move downtown in 2008. I really have to stop talking about how much I want to live in the West Village and just do it. Maybe my new job will pay me enough to afford the rent or I'll find a reasonably priced place. Whatever the case, I want to leave the Upper East Side, if for no other reason that to stop running into that wanker in Gristedes.
5. I will be really happy in 2008! I know it's going to be the best year ever!