Profile: Susanna Salk

Susanna Salk, author of A Privileged Life

Following my post yesterday on the return of preppy, I was honored to catch up with the lovely Susanna Salk, author of A Privileged Life, and get her opinion on the subject.

In my posting yesterday a preppy comeback, I stated that the true preppy establishment is not part of a trend or a new movement. Most WASPs or ‘preppies’ buy into classics rather than trends, and don't change their lifestyles with fads. Do you think there is a preppy comeback or is it a return to a lifestyle that has long existed?

I think there is renewed interest in the WASP culture, as what tends to happen every ten or so years. This “tribe” as I call it, is without trend. In fact the very reason I think people are drawn to its rather myopic scope, is that it endures, despite the winds of change and onslaught of constant trends banging against its doors.

In a world full of uncertainty and flux, this can seem comforting even if we only are only drawn to its pretty images or want to borrow just a few of its iconic elements from time to time. There is a privilege of living in a timeless style.

What did you enjoy most about writing A Privileged Life?
Realizing WASP culture's strangely broad influence upon mainstream culture over many years. I liked examining all its quirky gradations and manifestations. I felt a little bit like an archaeologist.

Who from the book would you most like to share a box of Triscuits and wine?
Truman Capote

Who are your personal style icons?
Kate Moss, Cate Blanchett, CZ Guest

What is your favorite book?
Tobias Wolfe's “Old School”

Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Sconset, Nantucket

What is your favorite luxury in life?
To be with my children as much as possible.

What is your most prized possession?
A tiny journal painted with water colors my husband did for me after our honeymoon in Italy.

What is your idea of a perfect summer afternoon?
Out on the lake with the family and then friends over for cocktails.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Hotel Luna Convento

The romantic Hotel Luna Convento at dusk


Lemons fell at the guests’ feet throughout the night

Once again I have itchy feet. Yesterday I was captivated by my colleague describing his fabulous trip to the Almafi Coast to attend a wedding. The wedding reception was held at the Hotel Luna Convento, a renovated convent built in the 1200's. The Hotel Luna Convento occupies an enchanting position overlooking the bay of Amalfi.

In addition to its wonderful location and stunning sea views, the building is of undisputed historical and architectural interest. The cloister, in the heart of the complex, was founded by St Francis of Assisi in 1222. The small private chapel of the same era is still used for intimate wedding ceremonies.

The hotel first opened in 1821 and has welcomed everyone from Henrik Ibsen to Ingrid Bergman, Roberto Rossellini, Humphrey Bogart and many others. Perched on a cliff directly above the sea, the complex, built around the Cloister, has a fabulous swimming pool filled with water from the sea. Does it get any more romantic?

The Amalfi Coast has been on my ‘to visit’ list for years. Of course one huge benefit of living in the UK is easier and more affordable access to such wonderful destinations. The Hotel Luna Convento is certainly now at the top of my list.

A Preppy Comeback?

Journalist Mackenzie Carpenter with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote an article "Preppy, Straight Up or With a Twist" published yesterday. I spoke with Mackenzie last week by phone and we had a great conversation on the topic. She was even kind enough to mention my blog. So today I am putting the question to you: Is preppy making a come back?

In my opinion the term preppy has traditionally referred to people of a certain socioeconomic status. In particular, preppies are people who attended elite college preparatory schools. "Preppy has always been part of a certain set, the people who 'summer' in Nantucket," says Susan Rolontz, executive vice president of the Tobe Report, a fashion industry publication. "For a certain customer, preppy is always there."

In the 1980s the preppy fashion trend was born out of duplicating the uniform of WASPs and New Englanders—khakis, Oxford shirts, ribbon belts and topsiders. But I would argue that the true preppy establishment buy into classics rather than trends, and don't change their lifestyles with fads. That’s not to say anything against preppy clothes as a current trend. I would never call my style preppy, but I love the big pony polo in the photo above.

So is preppy fashion making a comeback? Of course living in the UK I don’t see it as a fashion trend. I do however keep up with US fashions and I do travel to the States. I was in Texas just a few months ago and I can’t say that I noticed a huge preppy resurgence. So what do you think?

All the Best Blog

Traditional Homes March 2003, photo Jon Jensen. Lynn Von Kersting

No, the title isn't a typo. I just have no idea how to get my blog to come up on a google search. Anything that I have posted as title will come up near the top of a search, so I thought I would post the name of my blog in a title. (Nothing wrong with a little shameless self-promotion, right?) If there is a better way please let me know. I'm sure there are many readers who are more computer savvy than I am.
Many thanks!
p.s. I thought I would post a nice picture for good measure.

Lynn Von Kersting

photos Traditional Homes March 2003, photography Jon Jensen

I receive more emails and hits to my blog regarding designer Lynn Von Kersting than any other topic or designer. Perhaps it's because so little is published about the California based designer. If you have done a google search, then you know what I'm talking about.

As I was sorting through my files and tear sheets this weekend I came across her work in a past issue of Traditional Homes. If you find more of her work, please let me know. You can also order her book La Strada della Dolce Vita via her shop, Indigo Seas, in Los Angeles (310) 550-8758. The cost of the book is $68 and is more of a lavish stylebook than a decorating book, but beautiful nonetheless.

Shopping on Sunday

I could spend hours shopping 1stdibs. Who am I kidding? I do spends hours scrouring this fantastic site. Not only is it great for finding one of a kind pieces, it provides great inspiration. My two finds today are a 20th century carved French bench upholstered in a camel colored chenile from Chapman Radcliff and a 1900's Italian Renaissance Revival armchair from Steven Sclaroff. Of course it immediately reminded me of the pillows in Kate and Andy Spade’s living room. If you've yet to visit 1stdibs, then you must see for yourself, it's such a great site.
Italian Renaissance Revival armchair from Steven Sclaroff

The World of Interiors December 2006, Kate and Andy Spade's home. Photo by Eic Morin

20th Century Carved French Bench from Chapman Radcliff

Habitually Chic

books from Habitually Chic's library

Habitually Chic is a most appropriate name for a new blog I stumbled upon last week. It’s so great when you find a kindred spirit via the blogging world. As I read through Habitually Chic I was overcome with the same excitement as when I found Style Court, The Peak of Chic, Cote de Texas, Girl Meets Glamour, Patricia Gray…. the list goes on. Habitually Chic’s blogger works for a top interior designer in New York and has meet Albert Hadley (his office is just across the street). Does it get any chicer (is that a word) than meeting Mr. Hadley? Habitually Chic includes daily musings on art, design, architecture, fashion, books and everything else habitually chic!

India Hicks

photos courtesy Storm Models

The posting of India Hick’s dining room on Style Court reminded me of an interview I read in Ultra Travel and thought I would share an excerpt.


Born in London, to interior designer David Hicks and Lady Pamela Hicks, India was named in honour of her grandfather, Lord Mountbatten – the country’s last Viceroy.

After backpacking around the world and modelling for labels from Gap to Ralph Lauren, she moved to the Bahamas 11 years ago with her partner, David Flint Wood and founded The Landing hotel.

Do you ever get tired of island living?
Never. Who else has two-and-a-half miles of private pink sand to run on? That and the stars bind me to the island.

What’s life like there?
Extremely simple – and great fun. I’m woken by my parrot squawking outside and my three children squawking in their bedrooms next door. The noise only subsides once I’ve taken them to school on the golf cart – although traffic hazards such as chickens make for an interesting journey.

Big lavish hotels or boutique joints for you?
Small ones. I prefer places where you know the set-up and they know you. In London, I love The Milestone. My mother adores it too. It’s reassuringly English, chintzy and comforting.

Other favourites?
The Gramercy Park Hotel in New York. I can never decide whether I’m an Uptown girl or a Downtown girl – and there, I don’t have to. It’s halfway. In Miami, I always stay at Casa Tua, which is intimate and so welcoming. Just right.

Real escapes?
Shompole in Kenya, which is made from pieces of wood or stone collected by the Maasai. It’s a unique window into an almost-forgotten Africa. We went on a Royal African Safari, visiting the Rift Valley, the Aberdares, and then Hippo Point – but then, I love Africa. When I was 18 years old, I went all over the continent – from South Africa through to Malawi, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, everywhere. It was the best education I ever had.

Travelling wardrobe?
Jeans and a cashmere jumper. My new favourite travelling shoes are Converse All Stars because you can dress them up or down. If I’m going to a city, I’ll usually have something on by Ralph Lauren or Day Birger et Mikkelsen, the Danish designer. For less formal occasions, maybe pieces by my sister-in-law Allegra Hicks, or Diane von Furstenberg, who also has a house on the island.

Tips for travelling?
If you want to sleep, headphones are very good at blocking out the sound of the plane. I think a fizzy Vitamin-C drink helps ward off germs. Jemma Kidd’s lovely skin-tone lipstick gives a bit of shimmer to eyelids and lips; and Dr Hauschka’s rose cream is a lovely moisturising pick-me-up.

Ideal romantic getaway?
A weekend at the Hotel Santa Isabel, in Havana, Cuba. It’s on the Plaza de Armas, a beautiful square. The place feels slightly sad, but it also has a romantic and unspoilt air about it. Havana still has that old-world charm, which I absolutely adore. You find dust on everything – and I rather like that, in our modern, flash, sanitised world.

Most glamorous hotel?
The Taj in Bombay. I love breakfast round the pool, because you really can’t beat the glamour and elegance of Indian women. Mind you, although I am a great fan of the country and am obviously named after it, I can’t stand the food.

Is it the worst food you’ve had?
Definitely not. I went with my mother to Russia at the invitation of the Pushkin Society, and in the local government hotels, we had to supply our own light bulbs and electrical plugs. The food was, um… well, put it this way: at that time, I didn’t like caviar very much, so I had to live entirely on baked potatoes. How things change. During my third pregnancy, caviar was just about all I wanted to eat. We once bought a beautiful caviar set in Kenya – little bowls made of ostrich eggs and lined in silver, with tiny mother-of-pearl spoons, all in an ostrich-skin case.

Interview by Lisa Grainger
Copyright 2006 Ultratravel & The Telegraph

Hotel Chateau Marmont

Chateau Marmont is something of a legend. Think of any famous name, past or present, and there’s sure to be a Chateau Marmont anecdote, scandal or connection.

This is the esteemed hotel where Paul Newman met his wife Joanne Woodward, Jean Harlow carried on a scandalous affair with Clark Gable while on her honeymoon, Jim Morrison jumped off the roof of a poolside cabana and John Belushi tragically died of a cocaine and heroine overdose.

Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard has been an enduring feature of the Hollywood scene since the early thirties. Unlike the Garden of Allah, Mocambo and Schwab’s drugstore, renowned institutions that sadly no longer exist, Chateau Marmont is still a prominent fixture.

Ask a member of the old Hollywood set about the Marmont and their eyes will twinkle as if talking about a naughty but likeable uncle who once scandalized and secretly delighted the family with his outrageous exploits.

The risk of being such a legendary hotel is not getting stuck in a time warp. Thanks to the preservation and restoration by New-York-based nightclub, hotel and restaurant impresario André Balazs, Chateau Marmont is still an alluring legend today.

The LA House

I’ve just caught my first glimpse of Ruthie Sommers’ new book The LA House (cover only). I believe the release date is autumn 2007. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! I still love the first Domino magazine with the beautiful Ruthie on the cover. Can anyone confirm that the upholstery is “La Fiorentina" by David Hicks?

Profile: Rita Konig

Rita Konig and friend


prized possessions

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
I would love to meet the Duchess of Devonshire, mostly I like sitting and chatting, that is always a bit of a scary thing to do with someone you haven't met before, but in a fantasy world, I would adore to spend the day hanging out at Chatsworth with her, going through the attics and poking around that amazing house and hearing stories. I hope that doesn't sound too weird and stalker of me. She is one of the old guard wonderful English women and I think rather a national treasure.

What is your favorite CD at the moment?
I am loving the soundtrack from ONCE, have you seen the movie yet, it is amazing.

What personal characteristics do you most dislike in a person?
Laziness, mean-ness and duplicitousness, I also can't deal with lying.

If you could vacation anywhere in the world where would it be?
I would love to go to the Middle East, Syria - Petra - Jordan, with an insider.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Laundered linen

Where is your favorite place(s) to shop?
Alfie's antiques market in London, Louis Boston (a new find), Sag Harbour in Long Island and Porthault and also Balenciaga – I am assuming this is fantasy shopping!

What is your most prized possession?
Not sure, my apartment I guess, but that is rather a group of things - when I moved house I brought my mercury glass match striker with me and a pink glass ashtray, they are two things that I like to have around and they feel like home.

Who are your style icons?
I suppose Diana Vreeland is one, Charlotte Scott is another, she owns Trasierra in Spain and is one of those women who just can make chic out of very little, Carole Bamford is another, she has tremendous style I think and she is one of those perfectionists who I would love to be, but just don't have the attention span to ever be, Bryan Ferry who has wonderful and unexpected great taste and Mark Birley who started Annabels, harry's Bar in London and Mark's Club - he has taste coming out of every pore in his body. When men have good taste they have the best taste I think, Julian Metcalfe is another - he owns Pret a Manger and has great style. Oh and the Duchess of Devonshire.

What inspires you to write?
Finding something new and exciting that I immediately want to tell people about, I love writing most when I feel like I am writing a letter to a friend, that is how I feel about writing a lot, I can't really write any other way, or at least I find it quite hard to do.

What is your idea of a perfect party?
That wonderful combination of old friends and new, being outside and dancing all night with a healthy dollop of flirtation.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Shopping on Saturday

There's far more to British food than sliced white bread and baked beans, just ask Safia and Ian Thomas, owners of A. Gold a tiny London shop showcasing the traditional foods of Britain.

Forget fish and chips instead think of a country kitchen filled with lemon curd tartlets, mouth-watering hams, cheeses, pickles and pies. Safia and Ian have scoured the United Kingdom for people producing high-quality food in small amounts, using the best ingredients and traditional recipes. A. Gold has also become a flagship for endangered British foods such as clootie dumplings, Scotch Black Bun and Banbury cakes.

Visit A. Gold online for a visual delight, regional breakdown of foods, plus a little history.

On Monday...

Rita's home
photo Domino Magazine

Be sure to check back on Monday when I profile the adorable Rita Konig. I think you’ll love the fun and personal information she shared with me, including her style icons and favorite luxuries in life, as much as I do.

All the Best of Spain

I’m closing the week with a few of my favorite photos from our Spanish holiday. On a cool, rainy morning in Scotland, these photos of blue skies and Mediterranean waters offer a welcome diversion from daily tasks. My two ‘must do’ while in Spain were the walk to Cala Boquer and eating loads of fresh seafood, especially Cuttlefish.

Cala Boquer (cala meaning cove or inlet) is a beautiful isolated area in Northern Mallorca that’s only accessible by foot (an hour walk through beautiful countryside) or boat. The beach has original volcanic sand and is the perfect spot for snorkeling and picnicking.

After a day at Cala Boquer we stopped at the local market to pick up wine and food for dinner. For days the very white cuttlefish in all the markets had mesmerized me and we decided to try our hand at cooking this delicacy. Cuttlefish (Sepia/ Sepe/Seppie) is especially popular in many Mediterranean cuisines. The coastal regions of Spain use cuttlefish for the marine flavor and its smooth texture in traditional dishes such as paella and fish stews.

Freshly caught cuttlefish retain their perfect freshness for up to 24 hours, but will need to be cleaned. Fortunately, for me at least, the cuttlefish we purchased were cleaned and ready to grill. My husband was more that ready to do the dirty work and a perhaps a bit disappointed that he did not to get his hands dirty cleaning the odd looking Mollusca. As a side note, I’ve just googled cuttlefish and it’s a good thing I did not see these photos before our trip otherwise I would have missed out on a wonderful food. We came up with a really simple recipe based on some of the books we found at Casa Romana:

Grilled Cuttlefish
serves 4
2 large-medium sized cuttlefish
Olive oil

Salt and pepper
6 clove of garlic minced
Lemons
Small bunch of parsley, minced (optional)

Marinate fish for an hour in olive oil with garlic, salt and pepper. In the meantime, fire up the grill (you could also use an indoor grill, but we preferred to cook fish outside on the charcoal grill). Grill each side for 8-10 minutes, turning a couple of times until golden brown. Serve them at once, drizzle with plenty of fresh lemon juice.


Casa Romana

I love staying at a fabulous hotel and I especially love great room service. However, after our week at Casa Romana, I have been converted to the world of self-catering. Certainly I will continue to seek out and relish short stays at wonderful and unique hotels, but for long term holidays I now want to live like a local in a foreign country, not as a mere visitor.

One huge advantage is the space to spread out (especially if traveling as a family). It was so great to waking in the morning at my leisure, making my own coffee and lounging by the pool with guidebooks. Then there was the cheerful smile from the lady at the bakery who came to understand my broken Spanish and knew exactly what I wished to order every morning. Late each afternoon I would escape to the rooftop terrace to listen to the bells ringing in the nearby cathedral. If you have the opportunity to stay in a fabulous villa or apartment while away I highly recommend it!

Sites to visit:
Holiday-Rentals
Luxury Retreats
France Home Style
Chez Vous Paris

Pink Wines

Deep in the hearts of most hardened wine lovers lies a passion for pink wines, though it usually doesn't come up for discussion unless the subject is broached in trusted company. Lucky for me I tend not to discriminate when it comes to vino and I am more than happy to try most wines! Having said that I can admit that I did not like pink wines prior to our move to the UK. Yes, I had tried White Zinfandel—not for me.

But, after moving across the pond I reluctantly tried pink wine again, this time a French Tavel. Tavel is the only official appellation in all of France (and probably all of the world) that produces nothing but rosé. Tavel wine is darker in color than the rosé of Provence – somewhere between orange and bright pink – and correspondingly fuller in body and flavor.

After a bottle of Tavel I was hooked. I took a few wine courses and began to read up on these pink varieties. So what did I learn? For starters, most pink wines are considered suitable for picnics and light lunches and unfairly associated with blush Zinfandel. Only rarely will some daring but knowledgeable soul order a bottle of good, dry Spanish rosado, French rosé or Italian rosato to accompany a more elaborate meal.

I am happy to report that I was that daring soul and ordered rosado with every meal while in Spain! Never once was I disappointed. Indeed, these brilliantly hued Spanish jewels, which are unequivocally among the world's best rosé wines, run the spectrum from the palest salmon to deep ruby and offer fresh, clean, aromas of cherry or raspberry. The best Spanish rosados do not possess any of the pronounced bubble-gum scents that characterize many modern rosés.

So, if presented with the opportunity, be rebellious and order a bottle of delicious pink wine with dinner.

Pottery

Colorful pottery from Cermiques Monti-Sion

If you have been a reader of this blog for any period of time you will know that I use the phrase ‘I love’ quite often! It’s a sickness really and one that I haven’t found a cure for either (although I’m not sure I want to!). It’s probably the reason I changed majors so many times at university. I love so many things and pottery is certainly up there on my list. Like many of the things I ‘love’ and ‘collect’ it begins innocently enough without any goal or objective and then I’m hooked—just ask my husband.

Pottery is one of the most diverse of the collectibles. Where can one find such a cast of characters with little in common other than being made of clay? I certainly had the opportunity to fill my love of pottery in Spain. One of the most striking characteristics of Spanish pottery is its variety. Variations of texture, color, form and style seem to be almost endless. I’ve posted a few photos, though I'm not sure they can do justice to the truly beautiful colors. Enjoy!

Calvari Steps

One of the main features of Pollensa is the Calvari steps. The 365 steps lead to Calvari Church and an ancient wooden cross. Every year on Good Friday the figure of Christ is removed from the cross and carried down the steps by torchlight.

Along the steps are several beautiful homes, garden and shops. One of my favorite shops was Think Cosmetic. I am such a sucker for wonderfully sinful bath and body products. So, of course I was enticed by the beautiful bowls and baskets filled with bath salts and soaps lining the steps to the shop, and ultimately through the doors of Think Cosmetic. A few soaps and a sachet of honey almond bath salts made their way into my bag, but my big purchase was a bottle of Mandragore by Annick Goutal. A bottle of Annick Goutal has been on my wish list for a while and the scent of Mandragore is bewitching. Every time I wear it I will be reminded of Mallorca.

Pollensa

We are back from a wonderfully relaxing ten-day trip to Spain. I have so many great photos and finds to share this week, but I thought I would start with my favorite, Pollensa.

Pollensa is without any doubt, one of the most beautiful parts of Mallorca. The landscape is so beautiful and diverse. Rugged, steep mountains collide with isolated shores that are surrounded by deep, pale blue waters and silvery green olive trees.

The town of Pollensa is a maze of narrow, winding streets and stone houses built in the 17th and 18th centuries. For the past seven days we were privileged to reside in one of these amazing homes in the heart of old town. Last Sunday morning, we like many others, found ourselves enjoying a leisurely morning in the Placa Major. Placa Major, the central square, is dominated by a large 13th century church Esglesia de Nostra Senyora dels Angels, built by the Templars. Every Sunday a wonderful outdoors market takes over Placa Major with stalls spilling down every available side street. A variety of local crafts, hand-sliced jamon Serrano, olives, and brightly colored vegetables begged to be taken home. And, of course, we were only too happy to indulge. The market is an absolute must, not just for purchases but also as a social activity. Most locals and tourists alike linger for hours in the surrounding cafes.

One of my favorite finds was Berenjenas de almagro (see photo). Berenjenas are tiny stuffed pickled aubergines (baby eggplants) that have been commonly served in Spain for hundreds of years. I have found one online store in the States, La Tienda, that sells Berenjenas. Funny enough La Tienda also sells the exact same traditional yellow mortar and pestle I bought at the local corner market.

I have yet to find an online site for the UK that sells Berenjenas, but I will keep searching!