Another book bargain

I have found another book bargain! The beautiful, oversized book Bunny Williams' Point of View is listed for $15.00 (retail price $60). Hopefully the price will stay at $15.00!!

I posted a link to Poolside with Slim Aaron's last week, another $15.00 bargain, but the price went up later in the day. I know that many of you were able to snag it at a good price. Poolside is now listed at $18.75, still a good deal. Does anyone know why amazon changes their prices so frequently? Supply and demand, I suppose.

Estée Lauder

Estee Lauder has been a household name for as long as I can remember. I still have fond memories of my mother taking my sisters and me to Foley's department store on Saturdays. Our first stop was always the Estee Lauder counter to see Mrs. Simms, my mother's favorite saleslady. She was always impeccably dressed and her makeup was sheer perfection. I loved to inhale the mingled scents of Cinnabar and Aramis that hung heavy in the air and test the various lipsticks when my mom wasn't looking.

When I was in the States as few weeks ago I found a copy of Estee, A Success Story, written by Mrs. Lauder in 1985. I read it cover to cover on the flight home. Not only is it filled with fantastic photos and reads like a who's who, but I found it to be very inspirational.

Estee Lauder had the one thing that I believe is key to any successful venture—conviction. She rarely missed the opening of a new store and spent a great deal of time behind the counter, advising customers and teaching the company's Beauty Advisors sales techniques. "I didn't get here by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it," she often reminded her saleswomen.

I especially love the story she tells of slipping off her heels after an extremely busy day at the former Sakowitz store in Houston. She began going over the accounts and realized that she was two dollars short of her $1000 sales goal. It was closing time and without a minute to spare she slipped her shoes on and went into action. In the end she sold enough to reach her desired goal of $1000.


She was a woman of impeccable taste. Perhaps it was her attention to the smallest of details that I most appreciate. I love the fact that she chose the Estée Lauder's signature blue because she believed it would best coordinate with the décor of most bathrooms and bedrooms. While testing colors for her bottles she would go into friends bathrooms and test colors against the wallpaper and tiles. She was truly a remarkable woman and one after my own heart.

Middle Image - World Journal Tribune photo by Bill Sauro
Bottom Image - Town & Country March 1974 photo by Fred J. Maroon

Profile: Lulu de Kwiatkowski

Like so many I have anxiously been awaiting the debut of famed textile designer Lulu de Kwiatkowski’s highly anticipated book Lulu featuring never before published artwork. Lulu is not only beautiful and talented, but she is a gifted and prolific artist.

The youngest of six children, Lulu’s childhood figures prominently into her artwork and design sensibility. Lulu’s father was a larger than life influence. He was a self-made industrialist who spoke twelve languages and was known to spontaneously fly his helicopter to pick up his children from their house in the Hamptons. Equally influential was her beautiful and fashionable mother, who frequently wore Pucci, and always encouraged Lulu to pursue her own imagination and sense of style.

Lulu’s art draws heavily from her 1970s childhood and travels to exotic locales. Her multi-media collages combine painting, drawing, photography and writing. “My childhood was a world of chintz and sorbet colored walls created for us by Sister Parish, whose whimsical designs proved to be very influential for me.”

These days she is busier than ever. In addition to her highly successful business and book tour, Lulu is expecting twin boys with her husband Alfredo Gilardini. We wish you all the best Lulu.

What did you enjoy most about working on your long awaited book?
The freedom. Most often when running a business, one is forced to think about the buyer or client when designing, what will sell, what colors work, which don't.

With the collages, I was really free to do as I chose. If I felt a yellow duck belonged in the middle of the page, then I painted one in...no rules, no sales sheet, no questioning...I just did as I felt.

What inspires your creativity?
Nature, family, travel, romance, childhood memories.

Name one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I can do a back bend and hold onto my ankles...at least I could before I was pregnant with twins.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Swimming in a clean crisp ocean

What is your most prized possession?
Our dog named Virgola...she is practically human and can almost speak Italian...really.

Who is your style icon?
My mother

Who would you most like to meet and how would you send the day?
I would like to meet my father's parents who died in ww2 before I ever had a chance to meet them....anywhere would be fine with me.


How would you describe your personal style?
Even though I love color, I tend to wear mostly neutrals (mostly white) with a little splash of color and pattern here and there only....it's very Lauren Hutton meets Kate Hudson in the film Almost Famous.

What is your idea of earthy happiness?
The sun warming my skin and the sound of the ocean.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Spring Fever

Image House Beautiful Entertaining/Home of antiques dealer Michael Trapp

Image Real Life Entertaining by Donata Mggipinto/A beautiful DIY bar

Winters in Scotland are quite different than those I knew growing up in Texas. I can remember many Christmases picking out a Christmas tree in shorts or begging my mom to turn on the air conditioning just so that we could light a fire—it rarely worked!

After three years of living abroad I find the cold rainy weather really does not bother me, as I love four seasons and cool weather. However, it’s about this time each year I begin to understand what is meant by the term spring fever. The mornings are getting lighter and the Spring crocuses and snowdrops are pushing their way through the autumn leaves. It’s also about this time each year that I am ready to gather friends and entertain! It seems as though everyone retreats after the holidays and seldom makes an appearance before March. I am just as guilty. When it gets dark at four o’clock in the afternoon all you want to do is withdraw inside your home with a good book and a cup of tea.

With entertaining on my mind I have spent the past few days dreaming up a cocktail party and pulling out all of my old standbys for reading. Two books I return to over and over again are Real Life Entertaining by Donata Maggipinto and House Beautiful Entertaining. Both books were published over 10 years ago, but the classics never do go out of style. I find both books to be just as beautiful, charming and captivating as the day I bought them. And, you can get them for a steal on Amazon!

Images House Beautiful Entertaining/The dining room of the late Geoffrey Beene


House Beautiful Entertaining includes Bill Blass’ meatloaf and James Beard’s onion sandwiches. The story goes that the late great James Beard was bored by crudités, but loved these delicate sandwiches, which he invented in the 1930s when he was a caterer.

Onion Sandwiches

8 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened
16 slices good quality white sandwich bread
1 large Vidalia onion, peeled and thinly sliced
Salt, preferably sea salt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Bunch parsley, finely chopped

1. Butter bread slices on one side, then put a thin layer of onions over butter on eight of the slices. Lightly season onions with salt, and then assemble sandwiches with remaining bread slices. Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter cut out two small rounds from each sandwich, making 16 small sandwiches in all. (Discard trimmings.)

2. Spread some of the mayonnaise around the outside rim of each sandwich. Roll the rim of each sandwich in parsley to coat completely. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for a few hours.

Serves 2 to 4

Edward Quinn

Edward Quinn's Rivera Cocktail

A beautiful and serene Grace Kelly

Brigitte Bardot in mambo scene from ‘And God Created Woman’, 1956

Edward Quinn's long time friend Picasso

Irish photographer Edward Quinn (1920-1997) photographed some of the most iconic figures of the 20th Century. Quinn was a fixture on the French Riviera during the 1950s, when the area’s great hotels and casinos returned to top form after the ravages of WWII. Quinn was witness to the Riviera’s social life and at the epicentre of its glitz and glamour.

Before the era of private photographers and press agents Quinn gained access to the darlings of the day through a very simple, yet powerful means—his charm.

For some stars, Quinn even helped broker future success—his pictures of a then-unknown Audrey Hepburn won Hollywood's attention and it was Quinn who orchestrated the first meeting between Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III. In 1951 he introduced himself to Picasso, spawning a life-long friendship that allowed him to capture a seldom-seen private side of that very public genius.

Edward Quinn’s Riviera, chronicled in Rivera Cocktail, remains an enduring and timeless place to retreat.

All photos from the Edward Quinn Archive. All rights reserved.

Shopping on Saturday

I am a self-confessed book junkie. My list is always growing and consequently never ending. I could easily and happily fill an entire house and blog with nothing but books (magazines too for that matter). One of my fondest memories as a child is going to the library and having free reign to lose myself among the old, dusty literature.

This year my Christmas list consists only of books. Here are just a few I hope to add to my personal library.

The Well- Lived Life by Dominique Browning

Robert Indiana by Nathan Kernan

Let Me In by Mario Testino

Palm Springs Style by Aline Coquelle

The Carlyle Assouline Books

Hot Toddies

When the weather outside is frightful, what could be more delightful than a mug of nutmeg-laced hot buttered rum? Warm winter drinks always seem to add an element of festivity to the season.

When we lived in the States we made hot buttered rum every year for our annual Christmas party. It always seemed like such a traditional British, “Dickens-ish” thing to do. Then we moved to Scotland, hosted our first Christmas party, and no one at our party had ever tasted hot buttered rum (some had not even heard of it!). It was just like the episode of Will and Grace when Grace and Leo order two mugs of hot buttered rum at the Nutcracker. Grace declares that she loves they are drinking hot buttered rum because it is so “Christmassy.” Leo takes a sip and asks, “What the hell is this crap?”

We sometimes get a similar response. However, I now feel vindicated after reading the December issue of Elle (US edition). Caterer extraordinaire, Peter Callahan and the stylish Kate Spade served none other than hot buttered rum at the Spade home for a holiday party.

For delicious recipes look at Hot Toddies: Mulled Wine, Buttered Rum, Spiced Cider, and Other Soul-Warming Winter Drinks. It’s a great little book for the holidays, whether as a stocking stuffer or a hostess gift.


For those who are curious, hot toddy is a name given to any mixed drink that is served hot with alcohol. Although it originated in Scotland, there are many variations; the essential elements are a spirit base such as brandy, rum or whisky; hot liquid — hot tea, coffee, cocoa or water; a sweetener, such as honey, sugar or syrup. If you spend a winter in Scotland it’s no surprise that warm, bracing drinks were invented in the country.

Hot toddies are traditionally considered appropriate for relaxing in the evening before retiring, or following exposure to severe weather. So curl up by the fire and enjoy a steamy, frothy Irish coffee or steaming mulled wine.

Postscript - It's evening here in Scotland and we just returned home for the winter festival in George Square. Once home my husband made hot toddies from Mr Boston Bartender's Guide...yummy!
google images

Book Launch at Hollywould

This past week my sister flew up to New York and met me for the weekend. On Thursday we started our NYC trip on a high note with Courtney Cochran's book launch at Hollywould.

Holly Dunlap's ultragirlie Nolita boutique, with its blue walls and crystal chandelier, provided the perfect backdrop for a book launch party.


The book, canapés and free flowing wine were well received.

Autographed Copy of Hip Tastes: A Fresh Guide to Wine

One lucky All the Best reader will receive an autographed copy of Courtney's new book Hip Tastes. To qualify simply subscribe to All the Best on the right side of the blog. All current subscribes will be included. One lucky reader will be notified by email on October 25, 2007.

Profile: Wendy Goodman

What a wonderful and fascinating life Wendy Goodman must lead. As one of the authors of the upcoming Tony Duquette book Wendy had access to thousands of photos, letters, and documents from Tony Duquette's personal archives. What a fun and most certainly overwhelming privilege!

In addition to working on the book Wendy serves as Design Director for House & Garden. Prior to her post with House & Garden she was the Interior Design Editor of New York magazine for 10 years, Contributing Style Editor of Departures magazine, and a Contributing Editor at Elle Decor.

How did you get your start in design journalism?
I have always loved to write and I started my career in fashion as a stylist and editor. I studied acting earning my BFA in theatre arts at New York University School of the Arts. I am so fascinated by how people live and how they express themselves that I changed, or sort of evolved my interests to end up producing and writing about people's lives rather than what they are wearing in that life.

Who would you most like to meet?
Who would I like most to meet? That is a tough one! So many people…I always wished I could have met Alberto Giacometti and spent time in his studio. Also I would love to have met Gerald and Sara Murphy.

What are your most prized possessions?
A ring from Tony Duquette, my father and mother's paintings, a sculpture of a fan by Christopher Hewat and all my books.

Who is your style icon?
Jacqueline Kennedy is my style icon, for her grace as much as her mystical beauty.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Doing what I love as my job.

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Lately, finishing the Tony Duquette book!

Mid 1960's drawing room at the Ducommon residence designed by Tony Duquette around the owners' collection of modern masters. Over the fireplace is a painting by Braque and on the hearth stands a miniature Calder.

Book Profile: Tony Duquette

Tony Duquette from the Duquette archives

Drawing by Elizabeth "Beegle" Duquette

Tony Duquette was a true design Renaissance man and had a knack for turning the ordinary into extraordinary. In a soon to be released book, Tony Duquette, Wendy Goodman (House & Garden's Design Director) and Hutton Wilkinson have created an apt homage to the 20th century design luminary who was known for his over-the-top style in interiors, jewelry, costumes, and set design. Tony Duquette is a lavishly illustrated book with many never before published photographers from the vast Duquette archives.

I’ve long been fascinated by the legendary Tony Duquette and his wife Elizabeth who he affectionately called “Beegle” (a nickname derived from the industry of the bee and the soaring poetry of the eagle). The exuberant couple, whose talents perfectly complimented one another, collaborated on many design commissions and were sought out as an entertaining and attractive addition to the Hollywood social scene.

Like many, I am anxiously awaiting the release of the Danquette book and have it marked at the top of my Christmas list. The luxury edition of book will launch November 14th at Bergdorf Goodman then available in bookstores in December. Tomorrow I will profile the distinguished author and journalist Wendy Goodman.


Q&A with Wendy Goodman:

Where did the idea and inspiration come from for the Tony Duquette book? How long did it take to complete?
The Tony Duquette book has taken ten years to complete, with trips out to L.A to do research in between my magazine deadlines. I had access to the incredible trove of material in the archives through my co-author, Hutton Wilkinson, who was Tony’s business partner for thirty years.
The inspiration to do a book started the minute I met Tony and saw a design sensibility unrivaled anywhere in this country!

The book is to feature many lost and never-before published photographs from the Duquette archives. How difficult was it to narrow it down to those included in the book?
Editing the photographs from the archives was a torturous affair as we could have done three books for the treasures we found! Nothing was labeled or organized, so we had to go through each and every box, pouring through photos, letters, and documents. It was the ultimate great treasure hunt.

I love the quote from Hutton Wilkinson, “Tony was the only man who could spend $999 in a 99-cent store.” Exotic excess was the signature of the Tony Duquette style. Do you have any favorite or specific examples of his excesses?
What some people might consider Tony’s excesses, were to me simply examples of his relentless energy and passion. He was at the mercy of his muses every hour of every day.

What did you enjoy most about working on this project?
Working on this book means more to me than I can say as it is my first book, and it was challenging from many viewpoints. To edit the massive amount of material was a journey and learning how and when to let go, a good lesson. I love history and doing research, so to discover the letters of Elise de Wolfe to Tony was especially exciting.

What would people be most surprised to learn about Tony Duquette?
People will be surprised by just about everything about Tony, as his originality, his passion and brilliance were completely unique. He was also one of the kindest and most loyal friends. He was a creative soul through and through.

profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Katharine Pooley

Yesterday I posted on Forter Castle and the wonderful restoration by the Pooley family. Today meet Katharine Pooley, the mastermind behind the beautiful interiors.

Award winning interior designer Katharine Pooley is currently one of the most in demand designers in the UK. Katharine attended St Mary’s Wantage, Oxfordshire and then INSA University in Lyon, France. She spent 14 years living in Hong Kong where she worked for Morgan Stanley and Barclays Bank and has lived in Vietnam, Singapore, Bahrain and London.

To date she has visited over 190 countries, summited Mt Kilimanjaro and Vinson Massif and drove a dog sled across the Arctic. As you might expect, her extensive travels play a prominent role in Katharine’s interiors, which offer luxury and refinement matched with contemporary and traditional artefacts from across the globe.

Apart from being passionate about interiors and travel, Katharine has attended several prestigious cookery courses, namely Cordon Bleu and Prue Leith. In 2003 she published a travel diary cookbook, A Taste of My World, available in her London store. A Taste of My World takes recipes from every place, person and home Katharine has ever known across the globe.

What countries are on your must visit list?
Ethiopia, Bhutan , Mozambique, Mnemba Island - Zanzibar

What is your favourite luxury in life?
Playing golf on a Friday afternoon. Waking up at the weekends with all my dogs in bed with me in the country.

How would you describe your own personal decorating style?
Warm yet stylish, easy living yet clean lines and I love lots of storage!

Who is your style icon?
Sir Norman Foster

What did you enjoy most about writing a taste of my world?
The reminder of all the wonderful countries and memories I had of visiting each place.

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
That I am at my happiest hanging out in a tent with no showers for three weeks whilst climbing a mountain at 22,000ft.

profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Joanna Weinberg

I love London author Joanna Weinberg's new book How to Feed Your Friends with Relish. After I received my copy (thank you Kate) I read it cover to cover in a weekend. More than just a great cookbook, it’s a celebration of food, friendship and comfort cooking.

Joanna’s love affair with cooking began when she was away at university. While existing on pasta and other typical college fare her sister would call from London with sensational stories of extra virgin olive oil, smoky pancetta and hunks of fresh Parmesan. Inspired, Joanna started cooking for her friends and realized early on that a great meal was as much about the food as it was the fun and the feelings shared among good friends.

How to Feed Your Friends with Relish is replete with great menus for every occasion, from an impromptu kitchen supper to an all-encompassing birthday party; from a cosy afternoon tea to a summer barbecue.

I personally cherish memorable dinners at home surrounded by friends, and Joanna’s book indulges my obsession for entertaining. This book will be the gift to give and get this holiday season.



What is your idea of a perfect dinner party?
Sitting around my kitchen table, tucking into a steaming plate of stew and masses of red wine, with old friends who haven't seen each other in a while and have lots of catch up on.

What is your entertaining trademark?
I like to use old-fashioned linen tea-towels—the ones with the plain stripe of colour through them—for everything: napkins, or tablecloths, or to wrap around ugly saucepans. I like to drink wine out of tumblers. And I never make starters.

What did you most enjoy about writing Relish?
Testing all the recipes - sometimes I'd have made a sensible balanced meal, but more often than not, I'd get engrossed in perfecting something, so friends would come round for tastings. Once, I ended up feeding 6 people nothing but pudding - 5 different kinds, and they left on a total sugar high.

Have you always been passionate about cooking and entertaining?
No, but I have always been passionate about eating. The cooking started at university when I decided I'd had enough on institutional food, and I've never looked back.

What is your favourite CD at the moment?
I feel like I've lost track - I'm a complete luddite about some things and iPods have got me foxed. But I listened to the boy least likely to a lot - it makes me smile, and has made up for the lack of sun this summer.

What is your favourite luxury in life?
A massage at home.

What is your most prized possession?
My two Burmese cats - though they're so much their own people I'm not sure they can be counted as possessions.

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
My baby - but I'll have to wait a couple more months for that (I'm due in late November). I'd love to get a preview of what he or she will be like as a grown up, so I'd probably just want to hang out with them - but I'll have to wait a lot longer for that.

Profile by Ronda Carman

New York Living

Home of Muriel Brandolini

Home of Amy Fine Collins

Home of Hamish Bowles

While making a regular visit to one of my favorite second-hand bookshops I came across New York Living, an exquisite book for the mere price of £3.99. Written by Lisa Lovatt-Smith and photographed by Alberto Heras, New York Living, offers a fascinating glimpse into private homes belonging to some of the city's most creative personalities.

I was especially intrigued by the homes belonging to Muriel Brandolini, Hamish Bowles and Amy Fine Collins. The interiors of their homes are as fascinating as the owners themselves.

New York

Hollywould Nolita Boutique

Next month I am off to New York. Actually it’s my first trip to NYC, if you don’t count flying into Newark or driving though the city on the way to Cape Cod.

Last week I received a lovely handwritten note from Courtney Cochran asking me if I wanted to come to New York for the launch of her new book Hip Tastes. Well of course it sounded too good to pass up. I booked a ticket and my sister decided that she would fly up from Texas.

Courtney’s book launch and signing will be at Holly Dunlap’s amazingly glamorous shop Hollywould in Nolita.

I am also planning to catch up with fellow blogger Habitually Chic. It should prove to be a great trip! If you know of any must visit places, do let me know.

Profile: Carmen Reid

Photo by Martin Hunter

This week I’m thrilled to profile my dear friend and author Carmen Reid. Carmen was one of the very first people I meet after moving to Scotland and we instantly clicked. She is a rare breed that is beautiful, funny, intelligent and personable—all traits that come across in her writing. Carmen has just released her fifth book, The Personal Shopper, a fun summer read.

Synopsis—As a personal shopper in a swanky London fashion store, Annie can re-style and re-invent her clients from head to toe. In fact, this super-skilled dresser can be relied on to solve everyone’s problems… except her own. There’s a gap in Annie’s wardrobe – sorry, life – for a new man. But unfortunately, that’s the one accessory that she just can’t find!

What did you enjoy most about writing the Personal Shopper?
Inventing the heroine Annie Valentine. She’s a great character, definitely one of my favourites. Always rushing about trying to make everyone lovely and everything perfect and hopefully snag a bargain while she’s at it. She’s very warm and funny and makes you laugh, but as the book goes on you discover her tragic past. And I’d defy any reader not to shed a tear or two for her.

Was retail therapy required in order to do proper research?
Annie’s The Store is loosely based on the fabulous Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh. It’s just such an over the top glamorous shop. The most beautiful big shop I know. I do like to go round there once in a while for a ‘browse’ which yes, does often involve spending – whoops! - quite a lot more than I intended. (Ronda – aka – All the Best knows all about the dangers of the champagne manicure!)

What do you enjoy most about writing?
I get paid to daydream all day long! As jobs go, it’s really not bad! But don’t attempt being a writer unless you adore sitting at a computer on your own… a lot!

Do your friends or family ever show up in your books?
A little bit. Funny things they’ve said or done… or certain quirky characteristics make an appearance. But I don’t transplant entire people into the fiction. That would be a bit dangerous, I think.

Who is your favorite author(s)?
I have a long list of favourite authors that I’m adding to all the time. Current top five books at my bedside are by: Ernest Hemmingway, JK Rowling, Anne Tyler, Alexander McCall Smith and Bodil Malmsten. You see, now I want to add loads more… but that’s the current top five.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Really smelly, runny French cheese. And a glass of nice wine almost every day.

Who are your personal style icons?
Ooooh good question. There are two actresses’ style I’ve always admired: Uma Thurman and Kirsten Scott-Thomas.

Uma is really tall (like me… but that’s all we have in common sadly) and she dresses in that clean, unfussy way I really like. I’m always noticing in her films how she makes flat shoes work without looking clumpy and she does a good tall girl look which is short skirt with a very long cardigan on top (we flash the legs but look less like storks that way).

Kirsten Scott-Thomas is English but has lived in France for years, so she has got French polish to die for. In ‘Tell No One’ (out at the moment) she’s brilliant and I wanted every single one of her ‘casual chic’ outfits: all unstructured linen trousers, sequined scarves and so on. In the film she’s a tousled blonde lesbian and pulled off that perfect French combo of being unashamedly 40-something but totally foxy.

Where is your favorite place to go on holiday?
France and Italy never let me down. My perfect summer holiday ingredients are hot sun, big waves, unlimited plates of seafood and iced wine.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Susanna Salk

Susanna Salk, author of A Privileged Life

Following my post yesterday on the return of preppy, I was honored to catch up with the lovely Susanna Salk, author of A Privileged Life, and get her opinion on the subject.

In my posting yesterday a preppy comeback, I stated that the true preppy establishment is not part of a trend or a new movement. Most WASPs or ‘preppies’ buy into classics rather than trends, and don't change their lifestyles with fads. Do you think there is a preppy comeback or is it a return to a lifestyle that has long existed?

I think there is renewed interest in the WASP culture, as what tends to happen every ten or so years. This “tribe” as I call it, is without trend. In fact the very reason I think people are drawn to its rather myopic scope, is that it endures, despite the winds of change and onslaught of constant trends banging against its doors.

In a world full of uncertainty and flux, this can seem comforting even if we only are only drawn to its pretty images or want to borrow just a few of its iconic elements from time to time. There is a privilege of living in a timeless style.

What did you enjoy most about writing A Privileged Life?
Realizing WASP culture's strangely broad influence upon mainstream culture over many years. I liked examining all its quirky gradations and manifestations. I felt a little bit like an archaeologist.

Who from the book would you most like to share a box of Triscuits and wine?
Truman Capote

Who are your personal style icons?
Kate Moss, Cate Blanchett, CZ Guest

What is your favorite book?
Tobias Wolfe's “Old School”

Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Sconset, Nantucket

What is your favorite luxury in life?
To be with my children as much as possible.

What is your most prized possession?
A tiny journal painted with water colors my husband did for me after our honeymoon in Italy.

What is your idea of a perfect summer afternoon?
Out on the lake with the family and then friends over for cocktails.

Profile by Ronda Carman

The LA House

I’ve just caught my first glimpse of Ruthie Sommers’ new book The LA House (cover only). I believe the release date is autumn 2007. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! I still love the first Domino magazine with the beautiful Ruthie on the cover. Can anyone confirm that the upholstery is “La Fiorentina" by David Hicks?

Summer Reading

Is there any greater pleasure than sitting outside on a warm afternoon with a page-turner? Perhaps the only thing better (in my opinion) is lying on the beach with a fantastic read. And, seeing as how I plan to be on the beaches of Mallorca in a matter of weeks, I decide to head to Borders over the weekend in search for the perfect book. As always there was an overabundant supply of engrossing titles concealed behind brightly colored covers. After several hours I’ve narrowed it down to 3 that seem to have potential:


Kiss & Tango: Looking for Love in Buenos Aires
by Marina Palmer
A former Manhattan ad exec abandons the Upper East Side for the tango halls of Buenos Aires.

Our Love Affairs with Food and Travel
by Brenda C. Hill and Maralyn D. Hill

Two authors share travel tales and 200 delectable recipes from chefs worldwide. Famous chefs are featured along with new emerging chefs from rustic Tuscan farmhouses, the Fijian Islands, and well-known culinary schools including Cordon Bleu. The authors have travelled the world to break bread, sip wine, and learn the stories and secrets of nearly 100 chefs.

Extremely Pale Rose: A Very French Adventure
by Jamie Ivey

A chance conversation with a Provencal vigneron leads to the most unlikely of quests - a hunt to find France's palest rosé.

Extremely Pale Rose is a richly entertaining and informative account of the travels of Jamie, his wife Tanya, and their ebullient friend Peter Tate. Giving up their lives in London, they quickly discover an unfortunate truth - the French won't treat rosé or their quest seriously. Rosé is seen as a poor cousin to red and white wine, drunk largely as an apertif or to wash away the taste of spicy food. And although for many Brits pale rose has come to epitomise the south of France, French wine connoisseurs view it as flavourless water fit only for tourists.

Visit the blog: Extremely Pale Rose

So, what’s in your beach bag?