It occurred to me I really should speak to renowned Cuban-born New York designer Vicente Wolf about Cuba – how it has influenced him as a designer and how Cuba has inspired him. Graciously he obliged. His answers, which might have surprised me before I went there myself last week, […]
Blog
Postcard From Havana
Am just back to the ranch with jet lag and a cold, but what a fascinating four days we spent in Havana, frayed and falling apart as she is. The people are friendly and warm, and the vibe is energetic and lively. There’s a burgeoning contemporary art scene, and the […]
Great Gift Ideas, Personal, Practical, and Pretty
NEW YORK-On-the-ball go-getter that you are, you’ve already made your Christmas list and have started shopping. I’m always in the hunt for gifts that are both personal and practical. But finding them ain’t easy, and you do need to start early. Here you go… I had lunch at Doubles the […]
A Sauce That Will Rock Your World
As promised, a beautiful green sauce of herbs, capers and olive oil that will rock your world. It could also profoundly enhance your Thanksgiving – or at least your Thanksgiving leftovers – and it’s certainly not too soon to think that. Good gracious, here it is November already! First referenced […]
The Ultimate Status Pumpkin
Not quite meant for Madison Avenue but but can’t help grinning at my friend designer Tom Samet’s take on the ultimate status… pumpkin. Meanwhile, cruising through The Daily Beast yesterday I was stopped in my tracks by some other pumpkin carvings, those by artist Ray Villafane. The Beast says the […]
Weekend in the Country
MILLBROOK, NY-Wow, talk about timing. It’s a good thing our 2nd Annual Duck Shoot and Lunch was last weekend and not this slushy old messy one. And what a beautiful weekend it was. Spending time with friends; stomping around the countryside in all its autumn glory; shooting some ducks (which […]
Katie Ridder’s ROOMS
Katie Ridder’s new book ROOMS, is just out. If you want a breath of fresh design air, be sure you get this one. Funny I say “breath,” because that is one of the things about Katie’s work you aren’t conscious of…until you are: Her rooms breathe. It isn’t that they’re […]
The Dining Room at Bee Cottage
The November issue of House Beautiful is out, and it’s the last of the Bee Cottage series in the magazine, on page 66. Writing the Bee column has been an absolute joy, and your responses to it have been so generous and so gratifying, thank you. And thank you to […]
Muriel, Muriel, Muriel
Well I’m just full a beans today with so much to tell. Last night. Tout New York was at Phillips de Pury for the divine James de Givenchy’s reception for the equally divine Muriel Brandolini, there to sign her new book, The World of Muriel Brandolini, and to preview the […]
Using Herbs to Make Pretty Arrangements
BEE COTTAGE-This will be my last weekend at Bee for a while, sorry to say. The Hamptons International Film Festival is in full swing here in East Hampton, and there are a lot of people walking around in all black. Bee Garden is still showing some color, happily, and the […]
An Afternoon Walk – Garden Come to Gown
NEW YORK-Back in the city, reluctantly, on this beautiful Columbus Day, walking home from Midtown. Did you know Columbus came to the New World four times and never realized he was not in the Far East? And that that’s why our American Indians are called Indians – because he thought […]
A Morning Walk
A beautiful fall day in East Hampton. My usual morning walk. Nothing special. Weeds, really. But it makes me wonder what else there is out there for us if we will just open our eyes-and our hearts-to it. Hmmm. I’ll leave you with that. Have a great weekend.