ArchivesJuly, 2011

Whilst in London (Can you believe I just used the word whilst, what got into me?), I enjoyed a luxurious and stylish retreat at Kit Kemp’s Charlotte Street Hotel. A hip little gem in the bustling Noho neighborhood of London, I felt as if I were in a home rather than a hotel, and that is precisely the point the hotel aims for.

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Each room is individually designed and decorated by Kemp, some displaying the original mood boards the designer made to plan the spaces, with a modern yet traditional English flair. Mine was wallpapered in a stripey chartreuse, with a pale aqua, green and ivory floral drapery, a nubby beefy upholstered headboard, two plum and green quirky club chairs, a large Jacobean desk and beautiful ebony inlaid antique side tables. A room fit for a princess, and all three of us girls smushed into one bed were quite happy there together when we weren’t killing each other!

Afternoon tea complete with cucumber sandwiches and sweets, vanilla-black-currant tea and a festival of people-watching rounded out our stay. The staff was friendly and overextended themselves when asked for anything. I paid for it, yes, but it was well worth it! We all deserve the royal treatment once in a blue moon?

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Images provided by Firmdale Hotels

On the way home from Israel, we took a pit stop in London for a few days to regroup, re-westernize and explore. I had not been back for years, and it is full of energy, fashion and design temptations from Sloan Square to Bond Street to Marylebone High Street.

We had the enormous good fortune to see “the dress,” Kate Middleton’s, that is, on display at Buckingham Palace, which was such a thrill with the girls in tow. Shopping was overwhelming to say the least. If going to Topshop’s flagship on a Saturday wasnt enough, I ran into those pedicure fish again. What’s with these??

I did happen upon my old favorite, The Terence Conran Shop —a sort of combined UK version of Crate and Barrel married with Design Within Reach, but on on steroids. It was there I saw the patch-worked sofa I blogged about in my post about “A Royal Lounge” in person, and it did not disappoint. I could have spent hours and many pounds there, as well as at Liberty of London (wow, that building alone was enough for me!), Cath Kidson and the many (emphasize MANY) eating establishments we visited.

The famous food hall at Harrods was a bit crazy for me, but I was a good sport and did it, as well as the London Eye—which, at sunset, was breath-taking. More on the enormously charming and gracious Charlotte Street Hotel, of Kit Kemp fame—tomorrow. Such a great experience staying there. All in a day’s work, I suppose. And a good day at that!

A New Level of Simplicity

This image takes less is more to a whole new level. The gorgeous Michael Devine fretwork wallpaper says and does it all, creating a visual anchor and alot of oomph to an otherwise narrow and architecturally uninspiring entry. Add a well-worn farmhouse bench with a textural seat cover, a vintage rug, paint the ceiling green and your are done!

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Allison Womack Jowers via Atlanta Homes

Locals around here know EA Davis for it’s unending supply of prepster fashion from Lily Pulitzer to Vineyard Vines; a real New England staple that’s been around forever.

What they may not know, is that in the basement resides one of my favorite antique haunts, Neal Devlin Antiques. Tiny but well curated, I always swoon over something in this hidden gem. Today, after popping in to grab Doug some swim trunks, I travelled downstairs—with trepidation—as I knew I would not be able to buy anything but felt certain I would be tempted. Sure enough, there to woo me were these lovelies:

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1. Italian Majolica Plates: highly collectible and hard to find these days; pricey at 200 bucks a plate, but worth it in my opinion.
2. Italian Wood Lamp with Distressed Gold finish and Tortoise Gilded Shade: This is a winner, for sure, but the shade puts it over the edge.
3. Gilded Brass Wall Sculpture from Italy: almost a fancy C. Jere-esque form, what a statement on a bare wall!
4. A quirky crusty painted coffee table with glass top: This would transform a plain jane living room quickly..
5. Loose Portrait of Who?: Now this is the kind of painting I love to collect! I actually have a wall of portraits of ladies I don’t know; we call it the hall of strangers!

Now, the question is will I come home with swim trunks or a painting? Take a guess…