Many years ago, in the pages of one of my mothers discarded Vogue magazines, the October 1977 issue to be precise, I found my career path. Within those pages was the magical San Francisco home of Ann and Gordon Getty, an elegant neoclassical house by architect Willis Polk. Mrs Getty’s preference at the time was [...]
Posts under ‘Architecture / design’
Lobel Modern
Lobel Modern is a gallery that showcases pieces by important designers from the 1940′s through the 1980′s. A trip to Evan Lobel’s gallery never disappoints – there you will find a superb array of stylish furniture, lighting, and useful accessories. On a recent visit I was quite taken with a pair of slipper chairs covered [...]
A Desk with History
Founded in 1472, the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is the oldest bank still in operation. As would be expected, they have had a few renovations since then – some of the most elegant of which took place during the 1950′s, when the bank hired architects and industrial designers from within the Gio Ponti [...]
Albert Hadley
Many people have influenced my decorating sensibilities over the years, but none so much as Albert Hadley. I had the honor of working for two amazing years with the iconic Hadley at Parish-Hadley. This period in my career was indispensable, allowing me to develop and hone my vision under the sure hand of a legendary [...]
Paul Dupré-Lafon
Paul Dupré-Lafon (1900-1971) was known for his brilliant fusion of ultra fine materials – exotic woods, Hermès leathers, etc. – with a reductive architectural sensibility. His minimalist/luxe environments naturally resonate with more exuberant antique elements, as can be seen in the super chic Tom Ford boutique on Madison Avenue in New York city. Here Ford [...]
On the Foundation of Necessity
I M Pei designed this lovely portico in a fabulous complex of international style buildings for one of his first residential projects. Pei believes architecture should be “a pragmatic art… built on a foundation of necessity,” and as such he has often incorporated very dramatic porticoes that run the length of his buildings. They create [...]
