"Flower I"

All I want for Christmas is this stunning color lithograph by Joan Mitchell titled “Flower I” from her ‘Bedford’ series. The piece is currently part of an exhibit at the chicest new art gallery in Newport, Rhode Island, Andrea S. Keogh Art & Design on Bellevue Avenue. I love the vibrant abstract quality of this piece. Artist Joan Mitchell is known as one of the most significant women in the American Abstract Expressionist movement of the 1940s and 50s. She exhibited with the likes of Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Barnett Newman. In 2018, Joan’s painting Blueberry (1969), set an auction record for her career, when it sold at Christie’s for $16.6 million. Santa….?

A Curated Cabin

It’s been a busy few weeks and anytime I find my mind constantly orbiting without a break, I turn to my creative energy. Examining interiors, especially as my husband and I renovate our tiny A-frame cabin in Vermont, always serves as a nice break. I love the idea of a “home away from home” being an aesthetic departure from one’s otherwise “predictable” residence. It’s an opportunity to take some design liberties and create a different mood. Thus, our design influences are being drawn from the natural world, with a nod to some mid-century modern pieces. We’ll be incorporating a lot of blacks, browns, whites and brass hues into our material selections. Here, are some of our favorite interiors that match this philosophy:

A chic and simple vignette in Aerin Lauder’s Aspen home.

As showcased on 1st Dibs, this Aspen kitchen was designed with the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi in mind.

The spa at Hotel Wachtelhof, a boutique hotel in Austria. This hotel has been on my bucket list for some time.

Aerin Lauder’s Master Bedroom in Aspen. It’s amazing what a fabulous fur can do…regardless, it’s still about the view of the natural world.

Aerin Lauder’s Aspen Living room. Simple, serene, yet luxe.

This home is actually in Beverly Hills, the home of Jenni Kayne, however I love the blend of neutral colors…

Architect Brad Cloepfil designed this Sun Valley home with its perfect setting for memorable meals.

Hospitality with Style

Our honeymoon stay with Il Pellicano was all that and more. If you missed my prior posts, this Tuscan gem has been on my bucket list for a long while. Marie-Louise Scio, affectionately known as the hotels “Chef of Magic” (also the CEO & Creative Director and might I add, alum of RISD), has truly worked her magic to make this escape so enchanting and down right cool.

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would perhaps think more seriously about the hospitality industry. I find the industry fascinating - particularly high-end, privately-owned boutique establishments, like Il Pellicano. In my work, details matter, and Il Pellicano has mastered the details and then some. They have also mastered hospitality and making their guests feel at home. There is something about the level of this type of service in Europe…

I loved the repetition of the citrus yellow color around the hotel - from the chic beach towels, napkins with the most delicious seaside lunch, and striped bar where we enjoyed many aperol spritzes.

I encourage you to read on about the hotel’s legacy here.

Celebrating Cabana

One of the best parts of partnering with my clients to realize their creative goals is celebrating their company milestones. Whether or not I’m directly involved, it is a moment to reflect and take stock of all that we’ve accomplished together. That’s why I was so happy to share in the joy of seeing CABANA VINTAGE in Beach Magazine’s Labor Day Edition.

Pop the bubbly!

To read the full piece, view HERE.