A New Must Read Blog

One of my favorite people has thrown his hat into the blogging ring. The Devine Life by designer Michael Devine will focus on design, shopping, entertaining and other amusements. Michael just posted on Traditional Home Magazine's Fourth Annual Design in Bloom event which celebrates fresh design.

If I know Michael, we are all in for a real treat in the coming months. Be sure to visit his blog and leave a comment!

Tracy Porter

I will admit that when I think of Tracy Porter I tend to think of interior design and home furnishings, not jewelry and shoes. Wrong! I have spent half the morning drooling over at her website, unbelievably gorgeous accessories!! She also has a great blog. You must checkout the adorable interview with Tracy and her husband John.

Design*Sponge

The lovely Grace Bonney - founder of Design*Sponge

This week I will be a guest blogger over at Design*Sponge. Many thanks to Grace Bonney for inviting me, it's a huge honor. I will continue with my regular posts, but do visit me over at Design*Sponge where I will focus on the art and design world in Scotland, especially Glasgow.

Photo The New York Times

Bonjour

We are back from a most wonderful and memorable trip to Paris. In the next few days I will post photos from the magnificent Maison&Objet and highlight a few fun Paris haunts. Some of our best memories from this weekend were drinks with fellow blogger Marie-Laure and dinner with Michael Devine and Thomas Burak. More tomorrow...

My darling husband and moi

The lovely Marie-Laure

The fun and talented Michale Devine

Drinks at Les Deux Magots with Thomas and Michael

My Favorite Things - Anna Spiro

When I started All the Best it was purely for my personal enjoyment and a way to archive my growing collection of magazine articles and favorite travel destinations. I had no idea that anyone would come to visit my site or that I would find so many fantastic blogs.

One of the very first I stumbled across was Absolutely Beautiful Things. The name alone was enough to hook me and then I fell for the talented Anna Spiro. Not only is Anna a design genius and the owner of Black & Spiro in Brisbane, Australia, she is also one of my favorite bloggers! I never tire of her creative tablescapes and inventive use of color.

Merry Christmas Anna.

Favorite city:
Venice. It's just so romantic and whimsical and different from any other place in the world.

Favorite movie:
There are so many movies I love! It’s hard to narrow it down to just one. I love all 'girly' movies and ones that make me cry. I know that may seem strange but sometimes it's just great to watch a movie that makes you cry and cry and cry. I feel so much better afterwards!!

Favorite season:
Definitely Christmas time and as Christmas falls in summer here in Australia, I have to say the Christmas summer holidays at the beach. It’s my absolute favourite time of year.

Favorite book:
My French Life by Vicki Archer

Favorite food:
Jelly Babies

Favorite colors:
Pink, blue, yellow, orange, aqua, green, white, black…I love them all!!

Favorite flower:
Pink Peonies

Favorite memory:
Christmas holidays as a child at my family's beach house at Stradbroke Island.

Absolutely Beautiful Dinning Room

If you have not checked out Absolutely Beautiful Things today then go and take a peek. Anna has posted photos of her dinning room and it is absolutely stunning!!

New Blog

Amada Jaron, one of my favorite jewelry designers, has started blogging. Her most recent entry recounts her fond recollection of lunch at the home of Kenneth Jay Lane. Amanda, five months pregnant with her twins, was invited to lunch at his beautiful New York apartment. During lunch Kenneth told stories of his world travels as guests were served homemade soufflés by his staff. Amanda writes that he smoked all through the visit. His cheap Bic lighter and smoked cigarette butts looked glamorous as only he could achieve. Be sure to check out and bookmark her wonderful blog.

photographs by Jeffrey Hirsch

Cote de Texas

Happy early birthday to Joni of Cote de Texas. A few weeks ago I posted a birthday illustration for Anna of Absolutely Beautiful Things created by the wonderful Patricia van Essche. Joni left a note that her birthday was on the 20th of November and Patricia read the comment. A few days later Patricia emailed me to say that she had an idea and wanted to commemorate Joni's birthday in a special way. Here is the fantastic result of Patrica's amazing talent (she never ceases to surprise me). Happy early birthday Joni!

Perfect Bound

photo Karen Wise

I just don’t know when I will find the time to keep up with all the amazing blogs of the world, but I've found a new, beautiful blog! Perfect Bound is a blog dedicated to pretty pictures and is just full of inspiration. You must visit this blog!

All the Best Blog

Traditional Homes March 2003, photo Jon Jensen. Lynn Von Kersting

No, the title isn't a typo. I just have no idea how to get my blog to come up on a google search. Anything that I have posted as title will come up near the top of a search, so I thought I would post the name of my blog in a title. (Nothing wrong with a little shameless self-promotion, right?) If there is a better way please let me know. I'm sure there are many readers who are more computer savvy than I am.
Many thanks!
p.s. I thought I would post a nice picture for good measure.

Habitually Chic

books from Habitually Chic's library

Habitually Chic is a most appropriate name for a new blog I stumbled upon last week. It’s so great when you find a kindred spirit via the blogging world. As I read through Habitually Chic I was overcome with the same excitement as when I found Style Court, The Peak of Chic, Cote de Texas, Girl Meets Glamour, Patricia Gray…. the list goes on. Habitually Chic’s blogger works for a top interior designer in New York and has meet Albert Hadley (his office is just across the street). Does it get any chicer (is that a word) than meeting Mr. Hadley? Habitually Chic includes daily musings on art, design, architecture, fashion, books and everything else habitually chic!

Lusting for France

Today I came across a most delightful blog - Cotes De Texas. It’s always so much fun when you find a kindred spirit. The blog is written by an interior designer in Houston, Texas who lives, lusts, and covets anything French. The blog was created to indulge a love of French antiques, French furniture, and anything else pertaining to France! See you yourself. Très Bien!

Profile: All the Best

Moi (Ronda of All the Best)

I had not intended to profile myself, and was quite happy to stay in hiding! However, I’ve had so many nice emails asking if I planned to profile my own blog I decided that I would. What’s the old adage? Don’t ask others to do something you wouldn’t do yourself!
All best,
Ronda

Which interior designer would I most like to meet?
This is such a hard question for me to answer! There are so many designers whose work I admire! I’ll just have to name a few: Muriel Brandolini, Eric Prokesh, Ruthie Sommers, Katie Ridder, Markham Roberts, Schuyler Samperton, Lynn Von Kersting...

If I could vacation anywhere in the world where would it be?
Spain, Spain, Spain or a secluded villa in the south of France (with a pool—of course). I’d love to spend the week with my husband and son, relaxing and exploring the countryside. Each day we would go into the village to buy fresh foods for lunch and dinner, fill a jug with local wine and dine alfresco every night.

What is my favorite luxury in life?
When I’m in Texas visiting family each summer I love to spend each day at the pool ordering wine and club sandwiches. At home I love lying in bed each morning with a cup of coffee, a laptop and our puppy snuggled at my feet.

What is my favorite place to shop?
It’s hard to beat Neiman Marcus

From whom would I most like to receive a dinner invitation?
Texas socialite Becca Cason Thrash

What is my idea of a fantastic dinner party?
Beautiful surroundings, classic cocktails, diverse guests, delicious food, great music and a host who can put their guests at ease. I would have loved to have attended one of Nan Kempner’s Sunday night Spaghetti dinners.


Villa in the south of France

Profile: My Marrakesh

Maryam of My Marrakesh

Fascinating was the first word to came to mind when I read the blog My Marrakesh. So, what is the first thing to do when you find a new blog? You click the ‘About Me’ link of course!

Maryam - Democracy and governance specialist (if anyone knows what that means, please let her know so she can finally explain it to her mother). Loves kickboxing, interior design, watching foreign films, making altered art, and musing about life in general.

Yes, fascinating was definitely the right word to describe Maryam! And did I mention that she is an excellent writer with great taste, just read her comments on my blog—she loves all the same things I do!

If you are not familiar with My Marrakesh, you MUST go to Maryam’s blog. And for the big news—My Marrakesh is a finalist in the 2007 Annual Weblog Awards in the category Best African or Middleastern Blog. If you are so inclined (and I know you are) go to The Weblog Awards site before Feb 2 and vote for My Marrakesh!

Which interior designer would you most like to meet?
Alberto Pinto. Stunning use of color and I love his modern interpretations of Moorish style.

What would be your favorite way to spend a day?
My most favorite day in the world would be shopping the Paris flea markets with my best friend and muse, Anna, who lives in the South of France.

What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Anything by Norah Jones or Bosso Nova.

What personal characteristics do you most dislike in a person?
Miserliness and close minded-ness

If you could vacation anywhere in the world where would it be?
An incredible spa on an island somewhere in Indonesia. Ideally spending the morning in outdoor yoga and innovative cardio classes and all afternoon getting spa treatments. Sigh. One day, one day....

What is your favorite luxury in life?
I have a personal trainer who comes to my house two to three times a week. A former kick boxing champion, he pushes me to my absolute limits. We start every workout running through the fruit orchards. I also have an unfortunate penchant for Armani makeup:-)

What is your favorite place to shop?
The Marrakesh souks, esp the old hole-in-the-wall antique shops.

What is your most prized possession?
My wedding album. Our photos are all black and white and photo journalist style. That day was pure magic for me.

Who is your favorite style icon?
Christy Turlington. She is beautiful, graceful and strong. She also seems so balanced and mindful, traits I aspire to.


Maryam's wedding album

Profile: The Peak of Chic

Jennifer of The Peak of Chic

When I received the comment, “I too admired Babe Paley's style, and I loved her taxicab yellow living room designed by Parish Hadley,” I knew I had met my match. So of course the first thing I did was go to The Peak of Chic blog site.

And, just as I had suspected, it was fabulous! I didn’t know there was anyone else under 4o that loved out-of-print design and lifestyle books, C.Z. Guest, Dorothy Rodger’s My Favorite Things and scoured vintage issues of House and Garden (I don’t have any as far back as 1936!).

Jennifer, the mastermind behind The Peak of Chic, like me, is new to the blogging world. Let’s find out more about her:

Which interior designer would you most like to meet?
It's a tie- Albert Hadley and Miles Redd

How would you spend the day?
We (meaning Albert, Miles, and me) would spend the morning at the D&D Building (in NYC) going through showrooms and looking at fabrics and wallcoverings. Then, in the afternoon, we would go to their favorite shops. By early evening, we would have drinks and Triscuits in Albert's chic apartment (I read somewhere that he serves Triscuits to his guests!), and then we would proceed to Miles' glorious apartment and have dinner in his David Adler marble bathroom!

What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Bobby Short- "Late Night at the Cafe Carlyle" (and no, I'm not 75 years old but my husband sometimes wonders with my taste in music)

What personal characteristics do you most dislike in a person?
Insincerity and insecurity.

If you could vacation anywhere in the world where would it be?
Venice or St. Petersburg.

What favorite luxury in life?
Curling up in bed with a good design book!

What is your favorite place to shop?
Bergdorf Goodman

What is your most prized possession?
A sterling silver revere bowl that my sister gave me before my wedding. On it is an engraved inscription of a saying that my sister and I used to have when we were little girls.

Who is your favorite style icon?
I have two- in terms of fashion and all-around style, it would be Diana Vreeland. In terms of design, it would be a man (!)- Van Day Truex, the late design director of Tiffany's back in the 1960's (he had truly great taste).

Profile: Absolutely Beautiful Things

Anna of Absolutely Beautiful Things


When I started my blog at the beginning of 2007, it was purely a personal style file. I had NO idea anyone else would come to "visit" so to speak! I also had no idea that I would find so many fantastic blogs.

The first fantastic blog I stumbled across was Absolutely Beautiful Things. The name alone was enough to hook me, and then I fell for the talented Anna. Anna is the creative genius behind the blog and owner of Black & Spiro.


Which interior designer would you most like to meet?
Kelly Wearstler
How would you spend the day?
Shopping at all her favourite haunts.
What is your favorite CD at the moment?
All of Katie Melua’s c.d.’s
What personal characteristics do you most dislike?
I don’t like it when people are rude and ungrateful.
If you could vacation anywhere in the world where would it be?
I can’t just choose 1 place so I have to choose 3– Paris, Hawaii and Venice oh and the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Sorry that’s a hard question.
What is your favorite luxury in life?
Shopping at Chanel, oh and having my nanny/housekeeper – I don’t know what I would do without her.
What is your favorite place to shop?
Alamoana Shopping Centre in Hawaii and my favourite junk shop in Sydney—which I can’t name because it is my little secret!!
What is your most prized possession?
My David Bromley painting which is called “Poh”
Who is your favorite style icon?
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

David Bromley painting