Joe Nye Flair

With one glance at our bookshelves, you would guess that I am of the opinion that one can ever have too many books on entertaining. While the basics tend to remain the same, individual interpretation of an intimate gathering is what creates memorable moments in our life.

I recently had the pleasure of spending a few hours with L.A. based interior designer and party planner Joe Nye to talk about his new book Flair (Rizzoli). After years of offering advice to both clients and friends on how to create smashing get-togethers, Joe decided to commit his ideas and advice to paper.

Flair is divided into three sections—flowers, paper and table settings. Beautiful photographs—a breezy beach cocktail gathering, a casual red, white, and blue patriotic sit-down, and an elegant black-and-white supper—bring the book to life. A shopping resource completes this charming guide for those who relish the joy of entertaining. Only 8 x 8 in size, it is the perfect book to have on hand this summer; whether you find yourself entertaining or being entertained by others.

Soup on Sunday: Michael Leva's Spring Green Minestrone with Pistou

For today’s Soup on Sunday, not only do I have a wonderful recipe to share, but also a fabulous book to recommend.

The uber talented Michael Leva, J. Jill senior vice president of design, has authored his first entertaining book, Recipes for Parties, with friend and textile genius Nancy Parker. I was thrilled when Michael recently sent me his grandmother’s minestrone recipe. Michael fondly recalls that even though his grandmother was Italian she used the French pronunciation of pistou over pesto given her “northern patrician” upbringing.

Michael is so wonderful that he even prepared and photographed the soup yesterday for this blog post! Thank you Michael. I am so honored that I will be a guest at Michael’s book launch and celebratory dinner in New York later this week. I will follow up on the book with more photos after the party. Enjoy the soup!

4 qts. water
1 1/2 lbs. chicken parts (preferably white and dark meat with bones in)
1 1/2 lbs. sliced prosciutto
(for a quick soup, substitute good quality free range chicken broth)

2 cups each potato and celery in 1/4" dice
3 small zucchini, sliced in 1/8" rounds
1 1/2 cups finely sliced leeks thoroughly washed
1/2 lb. each white and green asparagus sliced into 1/2 bias pieces
1 cup freshly shelled and peeled fava beans
1 cup freshly shelled or frozen peas
3 cups finely shredded savoy cabbage
1/2 cup orzo cooked al dente
sea sat and fresh ground white pepper
1 cup basil pistou (pesto), preferably homemade

In large soup pot combine water, chicken and prosciutto; set on high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours. Strain stock and set aside; discard prosciutto and chicken bones; reserve cooked chicken for another use.

Return stock to pot and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and reduce heat, cover and simmer for 8 minutes. Remove cover; add celery, zucchini, and leeks, simmer uncovered for 5 min. Stir in asparagus, favas, peas and cabbage and cook uncovered 5 minutes more. Add cooked orzo and salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and spoon in a dollop of pesto. Serve immediately.

Serves 6

Holiday Wish List: Amy Lau

If you received all the books on your holiday wishlist, here are a few more that interior designer Amy Lau recommends. Amy has impeccable style and an impressive knowledge of art and design. Following her degree in Art History, Amy received a Masters in Fine and Decorative Arts from Sotheby’s graduate program where she studied with leading curators, art historians and industry professionals.

Amy's curatorial eye and deep passion for design were further honed at Aero Ltd., where she served as director under founder Thomas O’Brien. She was subsequently appointed design director of New York City’s noted Lin-Weinberg Gallery, which specializes in international mid-century modernism. Amy founded her New York-based interiors firm in 2001.

Design for a Living World by Ami Vitale
Dive in Style by Tim Simond
Visionaire No. 56: Solar
Liberty & Co. in the Fifties and Sixties: A Taste for Design by Anna Buruma
Slash: Paper under the Knife by David Reserve McFadden

Holiday Book List: Georgia Tapert

I have had the pleasure of getting to know the lovely and very stylish Georgia Tapert this past year. Former design assistant to David Easton, Haynes-Roberts and Mica Ertegun (MACII), Georgia has a clear and heightened sense style and design. Her eponymous store Georgia Tapert Living in SOHO is a comprehensive collection of her extensive travels from across Europe, India, Asia and South America.

I recently learned that Georgia is daughter of writer Annette Tapert (her stepfather is a writer, Jesse Kornbluth). Annette’s book The Power of Style is on of my all-time favorite books to read again and again. It’s easy to see that style, talent and literary love run in the family.

The Penguin hardcover classics designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith

The Penguin hardcover classics designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith

Life is Meals by James Salter. Its not a new book, but I like to give it to foody friends.

I will also give the Jacque Adnet book. Its in French, but I have so many friends that have been waiting for a copy. Hopefully they will do an English edition soon.

I just finished reading a book Peter Viertel wrote in the 70s called Bicycle on the Beach. I will be giving this book to some girlfriends.

Jacques Grange

The penguin classics are on my want list too. I would also like to receive the Yves Saint Laurent book.

Holiday Booklist: Kristen McGinnis

Kristen with Santa

I adore Kristen McGinnis’ holiday booklist—it is as eclectic and chic as the interior designer herself. Originally from North Carolina, Kristen attended the prestigious visual arts program at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Following her passion Kristen moved to New York to study fashion design at Parsons School of Design. Using both her learned and innate talents she landed a coveted senior position with Sills Huniford Associates.

In 2005 the talented Kristen opened her own New York-based firm, Kristen McGinnis Design, Inc. This past April, Traditional Home Magazine selected McGinnis as one of the Top 20 Young Interior Designers to Watch. Most recently she was honored by Jamie Drake and the International Furnishings and Design Association as a Rising Star of Interior Design.


Kristen's books to give as gifts:
The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé by Robert Murphy & Ivan Terestchenko

This is the perfect salve for those who missed out on picking up the Christie’s auction catalogue. I love that this book not only shows the well photographed Rue de Babylone residence; but also Berge’s home on Rue Bonaparte; the couture salon on Avenue Marceau; Chateau Gabriel, their house in Deauville; and their houses in Tangier, and Marrakech. A true feast for the eyes!

Jacques Grange Interiors by Pierre Passebon
One of my all time favorite interior designers! Page after page of eye candy!

The American Ambassador's Residence in Paris by Ulrich Leben and Robert McDonald Parker

An inside look into one of the most prestigious hotel particuliers on the Rue du Fabourg Saint-Honoré.

Casa No Name by Deborah Turbeville
I just came across this book after seeing the must see Turbeville show at Pucci. Her haunting images of her house in Mexico are quintessential Turbeville.

Calder Jewelry by Alexander S. C. Rower and Holton Rower
All of my friends know that I love and collect artist jewelry. This book in particular is quite breathtaking. Many didn’t know that Calder made jewelry. Highly sought after by collectors and museums, the pieces were originally worn by many artists and notable patrons such as Peggy Guggenheim and Georgia O’Keefe.

Books Kristen would love to receive: (hint, hint)

Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out by Valerie Steele and Patricia Mears
I have loved her timeless designs since I was a student at Parsons. She is an architect with fabric.

Insects by Thierry W. Despont
For my Esquire Soho Lufthansa kitchen, I incorporated 2 of Thierry Despont’s insects into my design. I came across his show at the Marlborough Gallery last year and fell in love. Despont is an acclaimed architect that many do not know is also a very talented artist.

Cy Twombly Catalogue Raisonné 4 Volume Box Set by Cy Twombly
This is the must have book for all Twombly lovers, myself included!

The Wirtz Private Garden by Marco Valdivia
As much as I love living in New York City, it makes me crave a house in the country where I could be inspired by this wildly admired Belgian landscape artist.

Jean Despres: Jeweler, Maker, and Designer of the Machine Age by Melissa Gabardi
I adore his industrial and bold covet worthy jewelry!

Alessandra Branca New Classic Interiors

Today is one of those days that I wish I could click my heels and land in New York. I know that New York isn’t Kansas, nor is it my home, but it’s where I would really like to be today. A few weeks ago I received an invitation for an “intimate moment” with Alessandra Branca at her New York apartment followed by an evening book signing for her new book New Classic Interiors.

I recently had a chance to devour all the wonderful text and images. I promise this is one that you will want in your design library! Not only is Alessandra’s new book exquisite, she is donating all proceeds from the sale of the book to inner-city school programs for children in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington [Ross Global Charter Academy, New York; Marwen, Chicago; Children's Action Network, Los Angeles; The Arc, Washington]. Make a purchase and make a difference.

Caribbean Houses

Over the weekend I poured over the stunningly beautiful book Caribbean Houses published by Rizzoli. Author Michael Connors, a West Indian decorative arts scholar, provides a fascinating account of historically significant houses in the West Indies.

The book is divided into five chapters, one for each European heritage: the Spanish Antilles, the Dutch Leewards, the English Islands, the French Lesser Antilles, and the Danish Virgin Islands. And, with the disappearance of much Caribbean historic domestic architecture, it is wonderful to see the rich history documented in such a gorgeous book.

The colonial residences presented in Caribbean Houses represent an important historical record of the Caribbean’s material culture. I especially enjoyed learning more about blending of European styles with the vernacular island forms and decorative motifs.

A rare look into the interiors of these historic houses, complete with exotic tropical hardwoods, indigenous stone, local crafts and contemporary furnishings, Caribbean Houses is one for the bookshelf.


A detail of the Whim Plantation, showing the well-laid stonework and neoclassical column and inlaid pediment "eyebrow' above the window. Whim Plantation was founded on St. Croix in the 1740's, only a few years after the Danish purchased the island from the French and colonization commenced.

The seventeenth-century cookhouse and kitchen wing of St. Nicholas Abbey. The massive chimney, with its Dutch-influence design, is the largest on Barbados. St. Nicholas Abbey resembles mansions built in England during the same period. St. Nicholas Abbey is one of the only three surviving Jacobean-style houses that exist in the Americas.

Rose Hall, an eighteenth-century Jamaican house, is one of the grandest English island great houses. The carved mahogany woodwork displays th highest quality of craftsmanship. Rose Hall is now maintained by the Georgian Society of Jamaica.

Cinnamon Hill, another great house located behind and to the south of Rose Hill,was purchased and owned for years by Johnny Cash. It is currently being restored to its original condition and will be featured in the Georgian Society's Heritage Tour.

The grounds of Whim Plantation and the three steps of processing sugar during the colonial era: a livestock mill, a windmill and a steam engine smokestack.


The Alcázar de Colón, sometimes called the Columbus Palace, was built to house Diego Columbus, son the explorer, and his aristocratic wife, Maria de Toledo. A portriat of Christopher Columbus and his son Diego Colón hangs in the Alcázar library.

The Penha townhouse in Willemstad, buit in 1708, is the finest example of Curaçao's baroque style. The four story masterpiece of Dutch-colonial West Indian design has cartouchelike scroll gables and plaster leaf and flower ornamental motifs.

Photo credit © Caribbean Houses by Michael Connors, Rizzoli, 2009.

Karl Lagerfeld

Photograph by François-Marie Banier

For as long as I can remember I have felt a connection to people who relentlessly embrace their dreams and strive for the best. As a young girl my affinity was fostered through books. I grew up in a suburban neighborhood with two local libraries. During the long lazy days of summer my mother would drop me off at the library for regular rendezvous with F. Scott Fitzgerald and Truman Capote.

Then, as now, I loved nothing more than the thrill of being surrounded by endless stories of intrigue, fashion, parties and travel. But most of all I loved the encounters with captivating subjects. Along with my childhood home, these were the inspired worlds that profoundly shaped my young thoughts, ideas and views.

Photograph by François-Marie Banier

I am most fascinated by the complexing genius that is Karl Lagerfeld. My interest was fuelled several years ago after reading Where Karl Lagerfeld Lives by John Colapinto and Alicia Drakes' brilliant book The Beautiful Fall.

The uniquely confident and iconic Lagerfeld (born Karl Otto Lagerfeldt) is widely recognized as one of the most influential fashion designers of the late 20th century. Over decades he has collaborated with many fashion houses including Chloé and Fendi. However, it was his appointment to the House of Chanel in 1982 that elevated his reining status in the world of fashion.

Photograph by Karl Lagerfeld

Since moving to the UK I have become smitten with the shelter magazine Elle Decoration. Just when I think I’ve seen their best issue ever I am proven wrong the next month. Yesterday I picked up my April copy for the plane, but had to take a peek at the exclusive photos of Karl Lagerfeld’s Paris apartment. As Diana Vreeland once said, “Few things are more fascinating than the opportunity to see how people live during their private hours.”

Photograph by Karl Lagerfeld

The entire issue, including the 12 page Lagerfeld spread, is jaw dropping. My advice, get yourself a copy and find a cozy spot to read and devourer each photo. The last page features a fantasctic 1970 photo of style icon Gloria Vanderbilt - sheer perfection. Enjoy!

Kenneth Paul Block

Always fascinated with anything Truman Capote, I just finished reading Deborah Davis’ book Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball.

Intrigued by the illustration of Amanda Burden, in the borrowed black and white striped gown designed by Cecil Beaton for My Fair Lady, I was reminded of the work of Kenneth Paul Block.

One of the most influential fashion illustrators of the twentieth century, Kenneth Paul Block made his mark on the world of fashion at Women's Wear Daily in the 1950s. Long identified and celebrated for his drawings and water colors of such society icons as Babe Paley, the Duchess of Windsor, Jackie Kennedy and C.Z. Guest, he also became a favorite of the leading fashion designers.

Scores of designers hired Mr. Block to illustrate their collections, including, Yves Saint Laurent, Coco Chanel, Pierre Cardin, Garavani Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Bill Blass, Geoffrey Beene and Oscar de la Renta. Block also documented the work of up-and-coming designers Marc Jacobs, Perry Ellis and Halston.

Attending the shows in Paris, London, Milan and New York, Mr. Block was one of the first to capture the latest trend-setting styles of the 1960s and the post-war shift of couture to prêt-a-porter through illustration.

More of Mr. Block’s work can be seen in the beautiful book Drawing Fashion: The Art of Kenneth Paul Block by Susan Mulcahy, with a foreword by Yves Saint Laurent and an introduction by Isaac Mizrahi.

Profile Emily Eerdmans & Regency Redux

Like so many design-obsessed bibliophiles, I spent the better part of autumn anxiously awaiting the release of Emily Eerdmans’ much-anticipated book Regency Redux. I was familiar with her first book Classic English Design and Antiques, published on the occasion of Hyde Park Antiques' fortieth anniversary. Equally, I was aware of her impressive credentials via the dust jacket.

An expert in English decorative arts, Emily received her master's degree in fine and decorative arts from Sotheby's Institute of Art in London. However, I had no idea the breadth of her knowledge until reading Regency Redux. Emily's zeal for the subject and her vast comprehension are truly awe-inspiring!

Written in a highly articulate, yet accessible style, Regency Redux traces the roots of the Regency style, offering readers' a priceless and engaging education. From page one, glamour and elegance are the order of the day. While each page is a visual treat, I would be lying if I did not state that my personal favorites are the glamorous movie sets of the 1930s and '40s—Hollywood's Golden Age. Regency Redux is a must-have for any design library.

Emily Eerdmans is truly a girl after my own heart. I love each and every one of her answers to my questions. I look forward to the day that we can shop for shoes, pop open a bottle of Pol Roger and scour the web for beautiful fabrics.


Do you have a personal favorite period or style?
My favorite period of design for the decorative arts is late 18th century neoclassicism –whether Louis XVI, early Regency, or Swedish Gustavian. Josephine's house Malmaison is perfection. But, if I had to choose my favorite period of interior decoration, it would be the high style traditionalism of the 1930s and 40s—Emilio Terry, Syrie Maugham, David Adler/Frances Elkins, Henri Samuel, and Madeleine Castaing of course!

The opulent dining room at Malmaison

How long did it take to complete Regency Redux?
About a year and a half. The printing and shipping of the book took an additional 5 to 6 months. The actual writing - which for me is the hard part - took about four months. My editor once compared writing to a muscle that needs to be exercised - the more it is used, the easier it is. For me, this is definitely true. I often have to cut myself off from everybody just to muster the concentration to focus.

I am also a huge procrastinator. I never watch as much trash TV as when I'm facing a deadline. In fact, one of the reasons I started to blog was to start a regimen of daily writing to keep it flowing.

What was your favorite aspect of the project?
Without question, meeting all the tremendously creative and informed people through my research. Everyone was so generous and enthusiastic. A particular highlight was meeting Hutton Wilkinson who was endlessly helpful and gave me a tour of Tony Duquette's otherworldly Dawnridge. It’s an experience I will never forget.

Emily Eerdmans' own living room


When it comes to your own home, how would you describe your style?
English Country House with all its layers, mix of periods, and bold colors. I am definitely an accumulator and find it hard to let go of things.

One of my darkest secrets is my addiction to fabric websites - invariably I'll buy 10 yards of a Clarence House Epingle or a Brunschwig Lampas, and then change my mind entirely on a decorating scheme. However, I don't think I could ever hire a decorator because I take so much pleasure in worrying over every little decision.

What is your most prized possession?
My antique engagement ring - every time I look at it, I think of how lucky I am to have my fiancé Andrew as my partner.

What is the one thing in life you cannot live without?
Humor. And then chocolate.

A Palm Beach sitting room by Ruby Ross Wood

Who are your style icons?
Diana Vreeland for her zest and fearlessness. Karl Lagerfeld for his polymathic creativity and curiosity.

Who would you most like to collaborate with on a book?
Dead: Cecil Beaton although I get the feeling he liked to work alone so that might not have worked out so well; Alive: Derry Moore - his photographs of interiors are unsurpassed and capture the decaying grandeur that I love - he is also the most delightful person.

What books are currently on your bedside table?
Flower Decoration by Constance Spry - I'm determined to replicate those blowsy arrangements that made a Maugham or Lancaster room complete; Proust for my Madeleine Castaing book - that is not going well at the moment. Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label on the famed Hollywood dress designer who paired Joan Crawford up with those iconic shoulder pads.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Fabulous shoes. Emma Hope is a particular favorite.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Sitting on the beach with friends and family sipping Pol Roger while watching the sunset.

On the Agenda

This is going to be a wild and wonderful week, to say the least! Tonight I will be at Neiman Marcus for a book launch party. This summer I mentioned that PaperCity Magazine teamed with Assouline to produce the jaw dropping new book Domestic Art. Well, it is finally available and I can't wait to own this book.


Then it is off to NYC for the annual Decoration & Design Building Market Event. On October 16th I will be at Jerry Pair to discuss the Influence of the Design Blogger. The event is sponsored by Decorati. You can visit the D&D website for more details. I will return to Texas late Thursday, then it is off to Dallas/Fort Worth and home to Scotland on Monday!


Yesterday I had the most lovely and fun evening with fabulous handbag and shoe designer Elaine Turner and her marketing director Heather McLeskey. I will have a complete profile on Elaine next week. In the meantime you must visit Elaine’s website. Her handbags are to die for, you will love them!! I am now the proud owner of the gorgeous handbag at the front of the above photo.