Summer Rerun

I'm in the Hamptons working but I thought I would leave you with some of my favorite images and designs from the past year that I think you will enjoy just as much the second time around. Bon Weekend!

The Fashion House

I've been on the hunt for good photos of the Sutton Place apartment of the late Bill Blass and I finally found them in The Fashion House: Inside the Homes of Leading Designers by Lisa Lovatt-Smith and published in 1997.

Of course, everything is impeccable and beautiful just like Mr. Blass and his clothing. I also love what he has to say on design, "I have always thought that fashion designers are the best interior designers. I love it. It's all a question of the eye; you are soliciting the same innate talent." He also further supports my notion that all design is related whether it be fashion or interior, art, architecture or photography. And you either have an eye for it or you don't.

In the drawing room, Regency days beds flank the fireplace while 18th-century Italian globes sit a top a 19th-century Italian library table. The apartment was also simple and serene. " There is a sense of dignity, a simplicity and a classicism in my clothes which can be read into the apartment. As I am surrounded with colours and fabric all day I look forward to a monochromatic home. I work in fashion - I don't want to live somewhere that looks fashionable."

The onyx urn in the hall is from Pavlovsk Palace.

On the Edwardian table sits a model of the Place Vendome monument to Napoleon. "I moved in solely because of the height of the ceilings and the size of the rooms, and because they were square. I mean, square is the perfect shape for a room."

In the library, hold three Greek bronze helmets while a bronze by Sir Frederick Leighton sits on an 18th-century Swedish desk.

In the dining room, the German chairs are upholstered in early 19th-century toile and the trompe l'oeil painting is 17th-century Flemish.

"What I have here is the result of a lifetime of collecting. There is no relationship between the things themselves - except that I like them. You know how American women choose to wear a dress and invest it with their own spirit: I admire that sort of philosophy, and when I collect things, I choose how they are going to look in my life. The way I decorated here was to surround myself with the things I love...and they all have great dignity. And although I choose all the furniture and pictures, I did, as a bachelor, seek out a woman to put it all together...I had the advice of Chessy Rayner." Hmmm...sounds like someone else we know.

Creating Modern Rooms with a Traditional Twist

I knew Celerie Kemble had a new line of fabrics coming out from Schumacher but I didn't realize she also had a book coming out this fall entitled Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste, Create Modern Rooms with a Traditional Twist. I think Celerie has a very pretty style that is always evolving and I look forward to checking out her book when it's released.

Apartment Upgrade

Remember Michael Bargo and his spectacular studio from Domino magazine? Well, turns out he's upgraded to a one bedroom and took the New York Times along on a shopping trip. Michael also used to work for Thomas O'Brien and Aero Studios who are having a great sale right now. Check the old apartment below and the sale at the store on Broome Street!

Where Do You Summer?

Let the countdown begin! Season 2 of Gossip Girl begins on September 1st with a little fun in the sun of The Hamptons. Too bad they aren't actually filming in The Hamptons since I will be there Thursday and Friday for an installation. It would have been fun to report back some Blair and Serena sightings. Oh well. I guess we'll just have to wait for the premier. XOXO.

Assouline est arrivé!

The only thing that makes up for the fact that it doesn't seem like Ladurée is moving into the refurbished Plaza is that Assouline has and is already open! It's a small space on the mezzanine but it's packed with the beautiful books that we've come to expect from the the fashionable firm. Other offerings include vintage books, candles, prints and luxury editions. Oh, and I'll let you in on a little secret...they currently have in stock, Axel Vervoordt: The Story of a Style, which is a very rare find!

Just make sure you don't try to visit them on Sunday. They are only open Monday through Saturday until 6:00pm or give them a call, (212) 593-7236. I'm sure they'd be happy to send you something. Bon shopping!