Shopping on Saturday

Sorry for not posting yesterday, but I was out buying paint pots to sample in our hallway and lounge. After 10+ samples I think I have finally narrowed it down to my top three choices. This is the first time that I have used Farrow and Ball and I am very pleased with the colors and quality. The Company was founded in the 1930s in Dorset, on the south coast of England, by chemists John Farrow & Richard Ball. Over the past ten years, Farrow & Ball showrooms have opened in select locations in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Milan.

I also learned a very valuable lesson yesterday—latex has nothing to do with paint in the UK. When I asked the man at the paint shop if the paint was latex he got a strange look on his face and started laughing. After thinking about the situation for a moment I commented, “Let me guess—latex means something entirely different than to what I am referring.”

Of course I started laughing and told him that I was less than amused the first time my eight-year-old son came home from school, shortly after moving here, and told me that he needed rubbers. In the America rubbers have NOTHING to do with pencil erasers!

Framing and Hanging Art

Our unfinished hallway

Home of Kate and Andy Spade, published in The World of Interiors, Dec'06, designer Steven Sclaroff.

I have long been inspired by the 'salon' look of Kate and Andy Spade's foyer and have decided to try and create a similar look in our hallway (pictured above). It is a rather long hallway (twenty five feet in length), eight doors and a lot of wall space.

Right now I am in the process of framing and reframing some of our art. Having looked at several rooms I admire over the past few weeks (see below) it feels as though many of our pieces were framed ad hoc over the years. There just seems to be a general lack of cohesiveness. However, I don't want a matchy-matchy look either. Unfortunately framing a work of art is a significant expense, so I want to get it right this time. I'll keep you posted on the progress...

Upper East Side home of Camilla and Carl Sorenson, published in Elle Decor, Dec/Jan '05, designer Steven Sclaroff.

Home of San Francisco art dealer Martin Muller, published in the book San Francisco Interiors.

The Venetian home of Lars Rachen, published in The World of Interiors, Dec'06.

Another view of Lars Rachen's home.

Home of Nicolas Berggruen, son of the late renowned art collector Heinz Berggruen, published in the book Bright Young Things.

Stephen Dweck

One of my absolute favorite jewelry designers is Stephen Dweck. Not only do I adore his gorgeous jewelry, but also his ad campaigns are always stunning. Stephen Dweck’s formal training began at the School of Visual Arts in New York where he studied sculpture. It was there he discovered his true talents while hand carving bangles out of stone. He launched his jewelry line in 1981 and soon after was discovered by legendary designer Geoffrey Beene. Beene paired Stephen’s jewelry with his couture collection, exposing the designer to the powerful synergy between accessories and fashion.

Stephen’s beautiful and easily recognizable jewelry is worn by some of the world’s most stylish women—simply the best.

Extravigator

When writing this blog post I was going to begin with the sentence ”When it comes to travel research I am...,” but I could not think of the right word to complete the sentence. I asked my husband to fill in the blank and without hesitation he suggested the word "obsessed."

Just because I read every travel review possible, buy tons of travel books and poll friends and strangers doesn’t make me obsessed. I like to think of myself as thorough, but obsessed is probably closer to the truth.

I am highly affected by my surrounds and the last thing I want is to be stuck in a less than pleasant hotel while on holiday. I am not one of those people who claim the room is only for sleeping and it doesn’t matter—it matters!

One source I read, but don’t wholly rely on as the authority, is Trip Advisor. While I appreciate hearing or reading others' opinions before making a choice, I find some of the complaining voices can create confusion. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with legitimate complaints, especially from someone whose opinion I trust. But what about the people who complain about traffic noise in New York City, the size of European hotel rooms or an abundance of haggis and smoked fish in Scotland.

Luckily I have a new best friend in the quest for travel perfection. Extravigator.com founded last year by Dan Richman. Extravigator is an online travel community dedicated to the sophisticated traveler. The content is excellent and the dialog and interaction among member is fun, informative and interesting. Yes members. You have to join Extravigator, and while membership is free, it has to be approved. Dan has crafted an excellent luxury travel community and I look forward to watching the site grow.

Profile: Alexis Swanson Traina

I love a great glass of wine and I am partial to Napa Valley—it’s where we spent our honeymoon. During our trip to California over the Christmas holidays I had the occasion to try the magnificent House of Swanson’s Alexis Estate Red. A full-bodied wine produced from cabernet (65%) and Syrah (25%) with the balance made up of merlot and cab franc, it’s simply delicious.

Swanson Vineyards is a small, hands-on, family-owned winery. In 1969 proprietor Clark Swanson Jr. married Elizabeth Pipes and raised their three daughters, Alexis, Veronica and Claiborne in Naples, Florida. In 1985 the family moved to Napa Valley and began Swanson Vineyards. Today Clark Swanson is still very much involved in the running of the winery, as is Elizabeth—the heart and soul of Swanson Vineyards and daughter Alexis Swanson Traina the namesake of the Alexis wine.


In additional to their wonderful, award-winning wines, one unique feature that sets the Swanson vineyard apart from other California wineries is their tasting salon. Inspired by the literary and culinary salons of 18th-century Paris, the Swanson Salon gathers together individuals to sample, discuss and enjoy their wine in a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere. Rather than the typical winery experience where visitors stand, guests to the Salon are seated around a beautifully set table to enjoy Swanson wines paired with food. To keep the experience personal and intimate, tasting are limited to a maximum of eight people.

Recently I had the opportunity to catch up with the beautiful and charming Alexis Swanson Traina the creative director of Swanson Vineyards. I adore her answers to my questions.


What is your fondest wine memory?
The first time I realized red wine was NOT the body and blood of Christ.

What are your favorite varietals?
I have a very American palate and love BIG California reds. For everyday, I love merlot and for special occasions, I covet a cabernet sauvignon. I also am wildly charmed by sweet, dessert wines.

Why do you think California Merlots have received negative press in recently years?
It is all part of the cycle of life.... you watch, merlot will have its' day again soon. I am a BIG fan of merlot, especially when it is made well and correctly. In our house, it IS the house wine--perfect on a Tuesday night and perfect on a Saturday night.

What is the one thing in life you can't live without?
Cuban coffee in the morning

What is your most prized possession?
A box that houses the relics of my life: love letters, pictures, poems, buttons, ticket stubs--whatever....

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
To love and be loved in return

What books are on your bedside table?
Trashy magazines

What inspired the Swanson Vineyards Salon?
Naivete and a desire to be relevant

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
My father's father-- and if he were anything like his son, we would drive up the coast of northern California stopping at every oyster shack, coffee shop and bakery along the way.

What in your opinion is the perfect food and wine pairing?
That is a favorite topic of mine-- dreaminess for me is the naughty combination of dark chocolate and red table wine. I also love pizza and rose.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Shopping on Saturday

This week I started reading my copy of The Beautiful Fall: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris by Alicia Drake. So far I love the way Drake weaves together the lives, personalities and obsessions of two iconic designers and illustrious rivals—Yves Saint Laurent, the charmed genius and Karl Lagerfeld, the patrician workhorse.

As always, my book obsession is being fueled and my reading list is growing. I have a habit of taking notes of interesting details as I read so that I can search Amazon for more books, and thus the vicious cycle begins. Here are a few books I have added to my Amazon wish list in the past few days:

The Finest Houses Of Paris by Christiane de Nicolay-Mazery

Photos include a table set for sixty in Baron Guy de Rothschild's palace, considered the grandest private house in France and Hubert de Givenchy's left-bank garden. In some cases, the owners have refused to be identified, but you can still get a glimpse of their elegant interiors.

Paris, 1962: Yves Saint Laurent and Dior, The Early Collections by Jerry Schatzberg and Julia Morton

On assignment for Esquire magazine in 1962, fashion photographer and filmmaker Jerry Schatzberg documented the ultra-exclusive world of French haute couture in stunning photographs of famous fashion icons. All the glamour and drama of the runway is presented, including images of Yves Saint Laurent’s first collection after leaving Dior, as well as tastemakers such as Diana Vreeland and American Vogue editor Jessica Daves mingling in the chic crowds.

Christian Dior and Germany 1947-1957 by Adelheid Rasche

Published in 2007 the book is a tribute to the great Christian Dior on the fiftieth anniversary of his death. The book is filled with full-page photography, mostly in black and white, and showcases everything Dior, from his gowns to his accessories to his atelier in Paris. As the book's title implies, the focus is on Dior's connections with Germany in his great years, 1947-1957.

Le Petit Saint-Benoît

click photos to enlarge

This will be my last post on Paris, but before I close the week I have to do a post on my favorite meal in Paris. Yes, there are many wonderful restaurants and our dinner with Michael and Thomas at Brasserie Balzar was amazing. But the place that won my heart and tummy was Le Petit Saint-Benoit. A Paris restaurant dating back to 1901 the interior seems equally old, right down to the tin ceiling and tarnished mirrors. The daily menu is handwritten and then duplicated using the old dittomaster method of the 1960s.

We walked in an hour before closing, as did a very large group of locals. A few people were seated before us, but we took it in stride and with a smile. Obviously the right tactic. A very kind waitperson brought us a glass of wine and assured us she would seat us as soon as possible. I will add that the house red was extremely drinkable and we were shown extreme patience with our less than stellar French (we can order wine, say hello and count to ten…with help!)

We each ordered a large steaming bowl of Beef Bourguignon, easily the best we have ever eaten. A delicious mélange of flavors, the tender beef fell apart in the rich deep broth. We kept ordering more bread just to soak up the juices. If you go to Petit Saint Benoit do get there when they open to get a table, as it usually fills up quickly. And just as in 1901, they still do not take credit cards.

I will end by saying that our first trip to Paris was sheer bliss and I cannot wait to return in July. For all the Parisian stereotypes one sometimes hears we had nothing but pleasant encounters.

Photos from Le Petit Saint-Benoît website

L'Hôtel

Our first night in Paris we had drinks at the famed L'Hôtel located on the rue des Beaux-Arts in the 6th arrondissement. It was at this Paris establishment, while lying on his deathbed, Oscar Wilde exclaimed: 'My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us must go.' When he realized it would be him, he concluded: 'I suppose I shall have to die above my means.' The rates are still quite superior but the atmosphere of L'Hôtel is enchanting.

The 20 guestrooms, each with its own unique character and designed by the fashionable interior designer Jacques Garcia, are centered around an impressive atrium that rises up through all six floors.

The hotel's bar is overflowing with plush velvet chairs, original Cocteau drawings and handwritten letters from Oscar Wilde. We sat in a dark, quite corner that was both intimate and discrete. But perhaps the most surprising feature of the hotel is the steam room and swimming pool in the cellar—an unheard of luxury in the 6th where space is at a premium. In keeping with the general air of privacy, only two people are allowed at one time and staff will surround the pool with candles on request. Very romantic!

Maison&Objet

I will start by saying that if you attend Maison&Objet do be sure to wear comfortable shoes! I on the other hand opted for cute and new. New being the operative word. Not a bright idea. Had I fully realized and appreciated the sheer size of Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center I would have worn my Ugg boots.

Overwhelming, awe-inspiring and exhilarating best describe my first visit to Maison&Objet. I quickly realized this event is much more than just a trade show, it is a magnetic pole for designers, artists, editors, media, buyers and design lovers. There is a profusion of materials, patterns and colors available at every turn and in very large quantities.


One of my very favorite vendors was Jacques Pergay. Their chandeliers are gorgeous, massive and lust-worthy! Founded over 30 years ago in Limoges, France Jacques Pergay beautifully mixes modern and traditional elements. I only wish I had a room large enough to accommodate one of these beauties.

Just one of the many, many, many beautiful and stunning showrooms.

This is the first year Michael Devine showcased his striking hand blocked fabrics at the prestigious Maison&Objet Editeurs. To the far left is one of my favorite fabrics (Garden Folly) and to the far right is the gorgeous fabric used in Aerin Lauder's Long Island master bedroom.
The fabrics were displayed as canvas, highlighting the fact that they truly are beautiful works of art. My husband and I have been thinking that hanging Micheal's "canvasses" in our entrance hall would make a fun, yet dramatic statement.

Fun and fanciful feather lamps, Mat & Jewski have been designing decorative home objects and lighting since 1999. Their style is both humorous and provocative.

a casa k. a Florence based company creates beautiful, colorful, contemporary and very affordable glassware. I would love to have a few of these in my collection.

Signing Off

We leave for Paris in the morning and return on Monday. I hope to have many wonderful photos and stories to post next week.

All the very best,
Ronda

ps - just an observation as I stand here ironing - why is it that I can get more done in the 24 hours before I go away for 72 hours than I can in an entire month! In last day I have cleaned, shopped, paid bills, mailed letters and scheduled more appointments than I can count! Insane!

photo Elle Decor

Registry Bliss

If I had the chance to do it all again, after twenty years together, I would still marry my best friend. The only thing I might do differently, given the chance, is the bridal registry. Perfect Bound recently put this enjoyable task to me and it was fun to daydream. If money were no object what five things would choose? Click here to see my choices.

Shopping

After going through my wardrobe I've decided that there is nothing that I want to take to Paris with me this weekend, so I am off to shop...seems like as good an excuse as any!

Paris Itinerary

We leave for Paris on Saturday and I feel as though I am hardly prepared. Of course it is a very short trip, only three day and two nights, but I want to make the most of our time in the City of Lights. Maison&Objet will dominate the day on Sunday. However, Saturday is still open for suggestions. I’ve included few options below:

This legendary hangout in St-Germain-des-Prés is a tourist favorite in summer, but the neighborhood regulars reclaim it in the off-season. Les Deux Magots was once a gathering place of the intellectual elite, such as Sartre, de Beauvoir, Oscar Wilde, Picasso and Giraudoux. Inside two large statues of magots (Confucian wise men) give the cafe its name.

Brasserie Lipp is a Left Bank institution. On the day of Paris's liberation in 1944, the late owner Roger Cazes welcomed Hemingway as the first man to drop in for a drink. Then, as now, famous people often drop by for beer, wine, and conversation. Since its acquisition a few years ago by members of the Bertrand Group obtaining a table in this cultural monument is said to be much easier, and a lot less arbitrary than when Cazes granted or denied a table based on what he considered to be your worth.

Profile: Peter Callahan

If you’ve read Town & Country, InStyle, Quest or House Beautiful—just to name a few—chances are you’ve heard of caterer Peter Callahan. Callahan Catering has been on my radar screen for many years but it was the December 2007 ELLE article, Taste in Spades (US edition) that once again brought him back to my attention. The article appealed to my senses on many levels, but what really struck a cord was the simplicity of the menu devised by Peter and Kate Spade.

Of course, for a caterer to attract such prominent media attention and to achieve this kind of celebrity status the food and service must be first-rate. However, a combination of great food, pitch perfect presentation and a witty sense of humor is not easy to achieve. It is Peter's unique blending of these qualities that places Callahan Catering head and shoulders above the competition.

Meatballs with Spaghetti

In 1985, after a brief stint on Wall Street, he decided to trade in his financial career in exchange for one with a greater degree of creativity. For Peter, who is self-taught, it seemed like a natural move. "At a young age I was growing cultures for sour dough bread. Maybe it was because I felt sorry for my mom who is a fabulous cook and my two sisters can't boil an egg,” Peter jokes. By the time Peter went to college his love of all things culinary was full blown. “I had an equally enthusiastic roommate. We had butchered lamb and beef in the freezer and cases of Pouilly-Fuissé splits in the fridge,” he recalls.

These days his company’s clientele list reads like a who’s who—Hermes, JP Morgan, Lehman Brother, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany are just a few of Callahan Catering’s notable clients. An impressive list not withstanding, Peter is amazingly gracious, down to earth and most passionate when it comes to good food and great wine.

Cheeseburgers and Fries

How did you go from Wall Street to catering?
I went from the rock and roll side of Wall Street (the commodity trading floor) to catering, as I was wild and carefree.

What is your favorite food memory?
Watching my wife eat foie gras at Le Cirque 2000 when it first opened.

What it the one thing in life you can't live without?
My personal macrobiotic chef and guru.

What is your favorite city for dining?
Nantucket

Who would you most like to meet and how would you send the day?
I would most like to meet Marie Antoinette and party with her if any of those movies are historically correct.

What is your idea of the perfect dinner party?
A perfect dinner party must be all overnight guests so the evening evolves into the yonder with something decadent, unexpected and lustful such as bootleg absinthe in a Goth fountain.

What is your favorite indulgence?
Warm fondue mountainside after skiing.

What food trends have outlived their shelf life?
All food trends have outlived their lives, but my least favorite is that of copying others' innovative ideas.

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
I am macrobiotic (when I can be).

What books are currently on your bedside table?
On my bedside table are no books, I’m a caterer, remember!

Profile by Ronda Carman
Photos Ross Whitaker

Art on eBay

My most recent purchase is an Alberto Giacometti graphite drawing.

Close up details
The one that got away. Once it reached $800 USD I was out of the game.

Over the years I have made some wonderful purchases on eBay. I love the thrill of the hunt and there is nothing better than snagging a great bargain, except for winning of course. We have several eBay paintings in our home and I have been very pleased with each transaction. With such a wealth of original art on eBay it can be both exciting and overwhelming. So how does one choose?

Here are a few of my general guidelines:
First and foremost I buy what I like and I try to use common sense. I am always skeptical of purchasing art described as an "authentic" work by a "famous" artist. This is certainly the case when the price seems too good to be true. I almost always search out lesser known artists or look for paintings that have come from an estate sell. I tend to be ruthless when it comes to reading a seller’s feedback and I always ask a ton of questions. So far this formula seems to work for me. Do you buy art on eBay? If so, what have been your experiences?

Roger Vivier

Shoe designer Roger Vivier

Known as the “Fabergé of footwear,” Roger Vivier created some of the most important shoes of the mid-20th century, first as designer for Christian Dior when Dior opened a shoe department in 1953. During the 1950s Vivier invented the stiletto heel, imitating the small, taper-bladed dagger for which it is named. The seductive spiky stiletto was made possible by an internal strengthening rod of steel. Vivier created other highly original heels mimicking such forms as the comma, a ball, a pyramid and escargot.

In 1963 Vivier’s opend his own Paris salon and in 1967 he created the iconic chrome-buckle, square-toe Pilgrim flat worn by Catherine Deneuve in Luis Buñuel’s 1967 film Belle du Jour. Catherine turned the shoe into an overnight must-have that remains a classic to this day.




The classic Catherine Deneuve in Belle du Jour

Vivier died in 1998 at the age of 90 but his spirit lives on in a brand that is now stronger than ever, thanks to creative director Bruno Frisoni. In 2001, Frisoni was asked to inject modernity into the rich heritage of the brand.

“Our ambition,” says Frisoni, “is to create a brand, not to set up another shoe shop.” An art critic recently argued that Vivier shoes are high art, on a par with a Picasso or a Canaletto.

For Frisoni, who cites Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert among his muses, “They are like jewels for the feet. They are a subtle and powerful luxury. Sexy, but never garish. The shoe is an accessory of seduction. Seduction is the watchword of my designs at Roger Vivier.”

Examples of Vivier’s designs are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Musée de la Mode et du Textile in the Palais du Louvre, Paris. I think Roger Vivier would be pleased.

Profile: Carolina Zapf

Clothing designer Carolina Zapf

Photo Hampton Style Magazine

The lovely, German-born Carolina Zapf is the founder of CZ and Baby CZ clothing companies. A clothing line that focuses on heirloom quality children's wear in rich, cozy materials such as cashmere, linen and cotton.

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Carolina was raised in a distinctly modern and bohemian home. Her father is renowned furniture designer Otto Zapf and her mother Rosalie is a avid collector of '60s and '70s haute couture. “Design meant everything in our Bauhaus-influenced house,” she proudly proclaims.

Carolina came to the U.S. to study fashion & millinery at F.I.T. (The Fashion Institute of Technology) and designed women's wear for 12 years. In 2002 she decided to focus on luscious two-ply cashmere as the foundation for a new children's line that catered to chic new parents. Since founding Baby CZ Carolina’s designs have been recognized and touted by some of the very best including, Gotham, Town & Country, Vanity Fair and InStyle. Very chic indeed.

What influence did your parents have on you as a clothing designer?
I grew up in my father’s workshop looking at his design and discussing them for hours. My father is a minimalist and believes that less is more. Creating simple, functional design that pleases and comforts requires patience and commitment. The Bauhaus aesthetic has always been a strong influence on his work.

Even while being minimalist in their home, my parents always embraced fashion – sometimes being quite flamboyant in their style. They embraced the designs of Daniel Hechter, Cacharel, Courreges, Jil Sander and Armani—very modern for their time.

Both of my parents believe in beauty and not to shock the eye, it is all about enhancing your life and the way you look, not taking away from it.


What inspires your designs and creativity?
I have three children that constantly astound me with the way they change and see the world. I love to travel and take a lot of inspiration from places I have been, such as Vietnam and Africa. Even though we are a very classic modern line, there always has to be a fresh look to what we do.

What is your secret for designing clothes that are not only beautiful but functional as well?
Children are the toughest critics. If they are not comfortable, they will not wear it. Adults will put up with a lot in order to look good, but for children it is all about functionality and feeling good. I try to design clothes that will keep children looking like children. I like designs that are modern, but will stand up to trends.

Who is your style icon?
My mother

What it the one thing in life you can’t live without?
My family

What do you consider to be a true luxury in life?
Traveling

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
Sissi, the Empress of Austria. I would love to spend a day seeing all the details and beauty in her very lonely and complicated life.

What books are on your bedside table?
Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia

Editor's note: A special thanks to Patricia van Essche for introducing me to Carolina.