Style File: Amy Lagae

Serendipity is a wonderful thing. In recent months I have given much consideration as to how best I should move forward with my blog and pending book. Several ideas have consumed my thoughts and then, by a stroke of good fortune, I met the talented Amy Lagae.

I have often thought about the possible benefits of using a PR firm but the idea of actually making contact was just too daunting. Fortunately, despite her impressive career, Amy dispels any preconceived notions. She is one of the most gracious and unintimidating people I have come across in recent years. Not only is she gracious, she is gorgeous and was named one of the 10 most stylish women in Palm Beach—not a bad title.

Building on a fifteen-year career in public relations and special events, Amy established Avenue Public Relations, a boutique agency specializing in product placement, branding, media consultation and special events. Amy's impressive resume includes positions with Vogue Magazine, House of Lavande, The Orlando Shakespeare Festival, The Henry B. Plant Museum and The University of Florida.

Avenue Public Relations is based in Palm Beach, with plans to open offices in New York and Paris.

What is your favorite fantasy luxury?
A suite at the Georges V in Paris for a month.

What is your favorite reality luxury?
An afternoon by the pool (without cellphones ) with my husband and son.

What is your favorite Handbag?
My Orange Birkin. It's over the top luxury, but I love it.

What is your most prized possession?
Photos of my son taken by Lena Hyde. She's been photographing him since he was 4 days old.



What are your favorite indulgences?
Veuve Cliquot, a nice Bordeaux, Best & Co. clothes for my son, new white t-shirts, late breakfasts at a local diner and French magazines.

What are your all time favorite handbag?
I love the Hermes Kelly. Especially when I see old photographs of Grace Kelly carrying hers. So classic. I'd love to get a Maison Martin Margiela "satin sac" soon. I think they are really modren and fun. I'm also loving the new Fall Valentino collection.

How would you describe your personal Style?
Simple, chic. Michael Kors meets Lanvin with a little DVF thrown in for good measure (and sex appeal).




What is your morning routine?
Kiss my baby, kiss my husband, make coffee, check my emails.

What shoes do you wear most often?
I always wear heels. Always! I love my brown Very Prive pumps by CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN. But my "mom" shoes are Havianas Flips!

What are your must have accessories?
Hermes scarves, jewelry by House of Lavande and carrying my son!!!

What are your must haves for air travel?
Louis Vuitton wraps, Lap top, protein bar and iPod.

Who are your style icons?
Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Natalie Portman, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Catherine Denueve.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Style File: Tracy Smith

Look up the word style and you are certain to find a photo of jewelry connoisseur Tracy Smith. Tracy, founder of House of Lavande, established her one of a kind jewelry business in 2006. Based in Palm Beach she has traveled the world over combing flea markets from Paris to London, amassing a stunning collection of costume jewelry.

Tracy approaches her search for jewelry with the same historical rigor as collectors of vintage fashion. The expertly curated collection, which has been featured in Town & Country, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, contains over 5,000 pieces by such important designers Elsa Schiaparelli, Kenneth Jay Lane, Juliana, Miriam Haskell, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Christian Dior. Without question, Tracy has established a premiere name in vintage collectible costume jewelry.

In November House of Lavande will open their flagship boutique in Palm Beach. Tracy, alongside friend and interior designer Celerie Kemble, are designing an amazing space to showcase House of Lavande’s astonishing jewelry. I for one want to make the trip to Palm Beach for the occasion!

What is your favorite indulgence?
Flying up to New York for the day to get my hair cut and colored at Rita Hazan. I see Adrian Wallace and Juan Carlos.

What items are a must for air travel?
iPod, computer and gummy bears

What accessories can you not live without?
Vintage jewelry of course......and my Tom Ford sunglasses

Which pair of shoes do you wear most?
YSL sandal strap raffia wedges—in them I am the height I’ve always wanted to be 5'10"…without them…well I’m not 5'10"



How would you describe your morning routine?
Coffee, more coffee, then a little more coffee

How would you describe your own personal style?
Romantic and feminine

What is your all time favorite handbag?
A vintage needlepoint bag given to me by my mother-in-law (it was her mother's).



What handbag do you carry most frequently?
My huge Louis Vuitton Olympe Nimbus bag

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Favorite "fantasy" luxury: An afternoon nap which is impossible with 2 kids and a business!! Favorite reality luxury: A long, unhurried al-fresco lunch complete with good friends and champagne.

What is your most prized possession?
My husband and kids; they are my reality check of what is most important in life.

Who are your style icons?
Rachel Bilson, Sienna Miller and Ali McGraw

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Tom Cannavan

When we first moved to the West End of Glasgow I used to joke that I felt compelled to be an interesting person in order to live in our neighborhood. I was struck by the number of fascinating and gifted people concentrated in such a small area. Wine expert Tom Cannavan is certainly one of those people who fits in well in the West End. Tom is the founder of the online site Wine-Pages, which features over 25,000 wine tastings notes, hundreds of in-depth features, comprehensive guides and resources covering all manner of food and travel and, of course, wine.

In addition to this Tom is also an experienced international wine judge who has participated in some of the word's most prestigious wine competitions across three continents, including competitions in Australia, Chile, Argentina, France, Germany and the UK.

How did you get your start in wine?
Wine has been a passion for just about as long as I can remember. I am a graduate of Glasgow School of Art, and whilst my student days of the late 1970s and early 80s saw their fare share of inebriated nights watching bands play at the Student Union, once a month a group of us would gather in each other’s houses on a Saturday evening to explore food and wine – cooking experimental stuff and clubbing together to buy the best bottles of wine we could afford.

The passion stayed with me, and in the early 1990s whilst teaching computing at the University of Glasgow, I got my first professional break into writing about wine, with a column in a now defunct lifestyle magazine. Within a few years I had started www.wine-pages.com, one of the world’s pioneering wine web sites, and was picking up a lot of work writing for books, magazines and newspapers.

By the end of the decade I was being stretched more and more between my day-job and wine and food writing, and so I bit the bullet, jacked-in the University career and became a full-time writer. It’s a decision I’ve never regretted!




Do you have a favorite varietal?
I’m often asked for my favourite wine country, region, variety or producer, but it is a question that is genuinely impossible to answer. I’m lucky enough to taste an enormous variety of wines in my job, of all styles and quality levels, maybe tasting 5,000 to 6,000 wines per year. I’ve also travelled the world tasting wine and visiting the wine regions. The subject never ceases to fascinate and challenge me; there are always new things to learn and new wine experiences to enjoy.

It also matters so much on the context of where and when you are drinking a wine: with a fantastic gourmet dinner; in the garden with a barbecue; on its own in a bar with friends. If I’m really pressed, then Pinot Noir is endlessly fascinating for reds, and I love the Semillon grape for both dry and sweet whites.

What do you love most about your work?
The fact that the subject never stands still – new regions open up, new vintages come along, new winemakers burst onto the scene – which keeps this job always interesting. I guess the thing I love most must be the opportunities I have to travel to some of the world’s most interesting and beautiful countries and regions, either on press trips to get to know the winemakers, or to judge at wine competitions.

I don’t suppose there are many people who have the opportunities I do to travel regularly all over the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, all the time accompanied by tasting the finest wines they can produce, usually in the best restaurants and most beautiful places!

What is your favorite luxury in life?
The real answer is time I guess. I’m self-employed and work extremely hard, putting in very long days and huge amounts of work. To have a month without travel, or a few days off with no deadlines to meet, is truly luxurious for me.

What is your most prized possession?
Wine-wise probably a few cases of wine that I own from the famous Burgundy estate of Romanée-Conti. In terms of possessions, I have a beautiful pottery horse from the Han dynasty in China, which has been tested and certified as coming from around 200 BC. It’s not incredibly valuable, but it is a beautiful piece of sculpture that I fell in love when I bought it, and seeing it still gives me enormous pleasure and a sense of wonder every day.

Photo Jim Budd. All rights reserved.


What is your idea of earthly happiness?
I lead a very hectic professional life that necessitates a lot of travel and a lot of meeting people in social situations, so my happiest moments tend to be very quiet ones: dinners with close friends and family over some great food and a few nice bottles. That makes me sound severely middle-aged, but of course I refuse to admit that!

What in your opinion is the perfect food and wine pairing?
Something like a slow-braised dish of beef en daube or venison casserole, with a really fine red Burgundy or Rhone wine is heaven. Then again, some crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Albariño with a big plate of garlicky sautéed king prawns is hard to beat.

What is the only other occupation you would consider?
In the real world, I don’t suppose there’s anything I’d rather be doing than this. I know that for someone with my passion for the subject of wine and food I’m extremely lucky to make a living writing about it, and I am genuinely grateful for that. In a fantasy world where I had different skills or talents, I’d be a professional musician of some sort I think. Definitely something in the creative side, as after a voyage of discovery though short periods as a Civil Servant and computer programmer, I realise that’s where I’m happiest.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Katie Lee Joel

This past Friday I had the pleasure of speaking with Katie Lee Joel. I have been suffering from closet envy from the moment I laid eyes on Katie’s amazing closet featured in Town and Country this past March. I was struck not only by her natural beauty, but her impeccable taste. Being a Southerner, I was curious to find out more about this captivating foodie and West Virginia native. Like many I have been anxiously awaiting her new book The Comfort Table.

When it comes to cookbooks I have more than I actually need and I tend to be quite picky. I want a cookbook that is pleasing to the eye, easy to read and bursting with wonderful recipes. The Comfort Table delivers on all three merits but the real bonus is Katie. Not only is she a lovely person, she is also down-to-earth and talented to boot.



I especially applaud her message of conscious consumption and emphasis on fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, which Katie describes as "being aware of what you eat and how it affects not only your own body but ultimately everyone around you and future generations to come."

Katie developed a passion for food at an early age, "I was raised in my grandmother's kitchen and I come from a family of great cooks.” After graduating with a degree in English and journalism from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, she moved to the Hamptons to work as the house fishmonger for Jeff and Eddy’s and began writing for Hamptons magazine.

Designer Nate Berkus and architect Ahmad Sardar-Afkhami used gold-leaf to transform a 105 sq. ft. vestibule between the master bedroom and bath. Town & Country March 2008/ Photograph by Miki Duisterhof.

As much as I adore this book, I had to ask about the incredible Nate Berkus. Katie enlisted Nate to oversee the decoration of the West Village home she shares with her husband Billy Joel. Of course I wanted to know if Nate is as adorable in person as he is on television. “Absolutely!” she said, “Even more so in person!”

The two became fast friends during the redecorating process and Nate gives her book a resounding endorsement. "I have had more home cooked meals around Katie's table than anywhere else in recent years...and each evening, whether two friends or ten, is filled with warmth, laughter, and of course, incredible food. Southern comfort in the heart of the city...don't turn down an invitation if you ever have the chance." If I get an invitation from Katie I promise I won’t turn it down.



Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?
Two people, actually. My friend, author Kathy Freston, and my yoga teacher, Nicole Nichols. Kathy is very spiritual and a strict vegan and Nicole is very insightful and spiritual as well. I'd like to explore the mind-body connection of food with the two of them together. I find different types of diets very interesting and I like the challenge of developing recipes around their requirements.

What is your favorite food memory?
Weekend breakfasts at my grandparents' home were always special. Everyone would sit around the kitchen table and talk and eat for hours. Whenever I make a batch of my grandmother’s biscuits, my mind goes right back to those mornings.

How would you describe the perfect dinner party?
I don't think there's really such thing as a "perfect" dinner party because something is always bound to be a little different than expected. But that's what keeps it interesting and fun. It's all about how you handle the situations thrown at you.

My best dinner parties include diverse groups of friends. I love bringing together my friends who don't know each other and watching them connect. Other key elements include great food and music, and most importantly, a relaxed atmosphere.

What drives your desire for conscious consumption?
Conscious consumption is being aware of where your food comes from and how it was raised, and ultimately how it affects not only your own body, but future generations as well. I love my comfort foods, but to be truly comforted by my food, I must know where it comes from first.

What is your most prized possession?
Our home. We worked really hard to make it just the way we like it and it's so comfortable. Dorothy said it best – “There's no place like home.”

What is the one thing in life you can't live without?
I absolutely couldn't live without my dogs, Fionula and Sabrina. They are both pugs and are like two little comedians.

What food trends have outlived their shelf life?
I'm really tired of truffled-everything. Don't get me wrong, I think truffle oil has its place, but I think it's terribly over-used and can be quite over-powering.


What in your opinion is the perfect comfort food?
Fried chicken, without a doubt. I could eat it every day and never get tired of it.

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
I'd love to meet Alice Waters. I think she is one of the greatest food revolutionaries of our time and I'd love the opportunity to spend a day with her going to farm stands and cooking a meal.

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
I'm kind of messy in the kitchen. I really don't like to do dishes, so I usually leave a big pile in the sink and deal with it the next day.

Profile: Josephine Sasso

I first became aware of fashion designer Josephine Sasso shortly after I profiled her talented husband, Peter Callahan, back in January. Her playfully tailored dresses and use of colorful geometric patterns instantly won me over. When we began corresponding early in the year, preparing a profile for All the Best, I had no idea the depths to which her talents extend.

Needless to say I was stunned and more than pleasantly surprised to see her interior design work in this month’s domino. I was sure that it had to be the same Joesphine Sasso, but I emailed just to be certain! Like the clothes she designs, Josephine mixes colors and patterns so well throughout her home. I am simply mad for the color red and anyone who knows me can attest to my obsession with stripes, black & white and symmetry. All of my favorite combinations in one place—truly a visual delight!

I have a feeling this is not the last we will see of her interiors and I would not be the least bit surprised to learn of other hidden talents. For those lucky enough to live near Adrmore, Pennsylvania, you can view her stunning clothes and unique bridesmaid dresses at her eponymous shop.

How would you describe your personal style?
I like the innocence of debutante mixed with a dash of bordello.

What is your signature trademark?
In fashion it is one of a kind dresses. I break all the fashion rules by designing daily new pieces that are often only done once.


What is your favorite luxury in life?
Free time

What is your most prized possession?
My 7 year old daughter Juliet

Past or present what designers have influenced you and in what ways?
Courrèges, for creating white go-go boots, you have got to love dressing for men.

Do you find the principals of clothing design transfer easily to interior design?
Yes, fabrics used the right way, dress a room as stunningly as any woman.


Do you see yourself moving more into interior design?
My life flows in an organic way, design is a central theme to my life and houses are a natural extension of that process.

Who are your style icons?
Andrew Wyeth who is my mother’s first cousin.

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
Jimmy Page, listening to his music.

What is your favorite travel destination?
A deserted tropical island with my husband.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Kara Mann

Chicago based Kara Mann seems to be taking the design world by storm. Merging her background in fashion, art and design, Kara creates gutsy, unexpected interiors that perfectly mix both modern and traditional elements. A native of Evanston, IL, Kara studied art at Tulane University and later continued her education at Harrington Institute of Design.

Since opening her namesake firm, Kara Mann Design (KMD) in 2005, Kara has been recognized by Metropolitan Home as a part of the 2007 Design 100; domino magazine’s 2007 top 10; and Western Interiors and Design The List 2007. On top of her game, Kara recently founded her Chicago showroom, KARA MANN, LTD., featuring a wonderful mixture of modern and classic pieces.

I love the way Kara juxtaposes light and dark colors and integrates curious objects, while maintaining the comfort and luxury of a space. She’s not afraid to break the mold, but is mindful of timeless styles—very chic Ms. Mann!

What inspires your creativity?
The amazing team I work with everyday at KMD.

Who would you most like to work with on a project?
I would love to collaborate with Chrome Hearts designer, Richard Stark. He is a constant inspiration.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Space and time.

What is your most prized possession?
My Christian Dior men’s tuxedo.

Who are your style icons?
Vivian Westwood and Kate Moss

Who would you most like to meet and how would you send the day?
I would love to spend the day with Karl Lagerfeld riffling through materials for his next collection… but I wouldn’t say no to lounging on a yacht with Jay-Z and Beyonce.

How would you describe your personal style?
Biker chick goes to Fashion Week.

What is your idea of earthy happiness?
Playing with my dog, Chopper, on the shores of Lake Michigan.

What books are currently on your bedside table?
No books. Just stacks and stacks of French Elle Décor and Australian Vogue Living.

What is the one thing in life you can't live without?
My Agatha jeans.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Connie Simmers

'Lock Gate' (acrylic on canvas)

I am crazy for the work of Scottish artist Connie Simmers. Based in Kilearn, near Loch Lomond, Connie’s beautiful work has been exhibited throughout Britain.

Born and educated in Glasgow, Connie took advantage of non-diploma courses offered at the Glasgow School of Art. She attended the art school from 1981 to 1983, began exhibiting in 1984 and had her first solo show in 1989.

Connie’s work graces many public and private collections across Europe. I hope to have one in my own home someday. I think her work would look brilliant in our hallway. I especially love 'Lock Gate' - stunning!

'Highland Smoke House' (mixed media on board)

What artists, historical or contemporary, do you most admire?
Historical: Picasso, Tapies, Chagall, Matisse, Diebenkorn, Nicolas de Stael, Joan Eardley. Contemporary: Jimmy Robertson, Barbara Rae

What inspires your art and ideas?
Travel has played a large part - an excuse to use colour. I always try to see subject matter differently. I like shapes and colour i.e. harbours, urban material and people.

What is your most prized possession?
My home

What is the one thing in life you can’t live without?
My family and my car

'Graffiti Man' (acrylic on canvas)

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?
Scottish Arts Club prize, Visual Arts Club prize and represented at National 50 Over 50 Exhibition at Brighton.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
A good marriage, a happy family and contentment.

Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
Atticus in To Kill a Mocking Bird. Jung Chang in Wild Swans. Shirin Ebadi in Iran Awakening. Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks.

'Cloths Drying in the Wind, West Africa' (mixed media on board)

What books are on your bedside table?
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. The Pillars of Hercules by Paul Theroux.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The surprises - maybe an unexpected sale - winning a prize in an open exhibition - meeting people in art world - dealing with galleries.

Profile by Ronda Carman
ALL ART/PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST

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

Profile: Katie Stassi

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting fellow Houstonian Katie Stassi. We meet at Starbucks for coffee and soon one hour turned into two. Talented, amazing, beautiful, driven and kindhearted are only but a few words to describe this wonderful woman. I truly felt as though I had known her forever. Katie began her design business less than three years ago and this year was named one of domino’s top 10 designers for 2008. Yeah Houston!

Katie says that she knew from an early age that she had a gift, “I could visualize and see things that most other people could not. My bedroom, which should have been filled with dolls and teen beat posters, turned into what my family called my apartment.”


Katie is a minimalist with a discerning eye for the finer things in life but used sparingly in a traditional yet modern way that is light hearted, sophisticated, youthful and fun. “In my opinion, a house is more than just a home. It is a sanctuary. A place you can call your own. An extension of your personality. An escape that takes you away from life’s unexpected twists and turns. A friend that you care for, share memories with and relish all of the days in your life.”

She is currently working on projects in Houston, TX, Aspen, CO and New Orleans, La.


How would you describe your personal style?
The best of both worlds! Antiques and modern furnishings! Highs and low's! I am always caught in the middle! My feet are always positioned in different doors! I love fine antiques that are old, crusty and dilapidated. Why repair or restore? Displaying it's age and history is where true beauty is revealed!

I also love classic, modern furnishings and bright, colorful art. It adds life and
character to a home. I feel as though my job is that of an explorer. Hunting and discovering the treasures of many talented and brilliant minds! I consider my days "field trips"! There is always something new to be learned and someone new and interesting to meet.

What is the one thing in life you can not live without?
God.

What books are currently on your bedside table?
There are too many to name, but a few are:Bible; City Chic by Nina Willdorf; The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell; A Quick Word with Beth Moore by Beth Moore


What inspires your designs and creativity?
The simple things in life! Sunshine, water, flowers, words, symbols, books, magazines, headlines, churches, music and, of course, God!

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
Oprah! She makes a difference in the world and she defies the odds. She exudes confidence and power but in a positive and constructive way. I would love to spend the day with her in a casual relaxing way. Just as a friend would...talking about life, curled up in a chair, drinking coffee, taking a walk with the sun shining down upon us and being surrounded by nature.


What is your favorite luxury in life?
Down time! Relaxing outside by a pool or open water with a stack of books and magazines next to me, sun shining, breeze blowing and music playing!

What is your most prized possession?
My family!

Who are your style icons?
Gwynth Paltrow - naturally classic and beautiful, yet in a modern way
Katie Holmes, classic and innocent
Cameron Diez - bright and fun!

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
The world living as ONE, LOVING not hating, having FAITH and HOPE for a better life, BELIEVING and being intimate with the HIGHER POWER who created this beautiful world, being THANKFUL, being UNITED as we should be, as it was DESIGNED to be......UNITED STATES!

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Nupur Tron

Beautiful is the perfect word to describe Nupur Tron, her personality, and the jewelry she creates. Four words came to mind the moment I saw her stunning creations, “I want it all!”

Nupur left India at age 16 for a summer holiday in Connecticut to visit her aunt and uncle. She was so taken with the States she stayed to further her education and graduated from F.I.T New York. Through extensive travels to Asia and Europe she learned the technical and production side of the fashion industry.

But it was Paris that would change her course of history. After a brief period at the Paris Fashion Institute, and on her last day in the city, she met future husband Frederic Tron at a couture show. They were engaged within two months and married two years later in St. Tropez. Her jewelery collection launched in Paris at the LeBon Marche in the summer of 2006. "Paris is a magical city I am so lucky to be part of it,” says Nupur.


What is the only other occupation you would consider?
I love what I do. I cannot possibly imagine any other occupation. Creativity seems to come naturally to me in every shape and form.

Which fashion designers have most influenced your style?
There are so many great creators but the one that has influenced me the most is Hubert du Givenchy. His style has timeless elegance.


How would you describe your personal style?
Chic and sophisticated.

What inspires your designs and creativity?
Everything! A woman sitting in a cafe just watching the world go by. Nature is a symphony of endless beauty. My own tradition and heritage that goes centuries back…ancient old architecture deigns, cultures, history and people.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Travelling, discovering cultures and people and inviting my friends over for dinner, as I love to cook!

Who are your style icons?
Audrey Hepburn for her enduring elegance of timeless beauty and charm. Maharani of Jaipur Gayatri Devi for her personification of beauty, grace and elegance. Most of all it would be my Grandmother for her beauty and strength. She is still strong at 97!


What is your most prized possession?
There are quite a few but the one closest to my heart is the coral Ganesh from my mother.

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
Oh…there are quite a few to name, but the one I would love to meet most of all is Mahatma Gandhi, father of our nation. I would love to spend the day with him by simply listening to his utmost enriched life experiences and non violent fight for freedom.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Shopping on Saturday - nora fleming

I love it someone takes a clever idea and turns it into a successful business. Such is the case with Nora Napientek founder of nora fleming. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science, Nora decided to explore a completely different vocation by starting her own paint-your-pottery-shop. Wanting to create unique serving platters for special occasions Nora came up the idea of an interchangeable dinnerware collection. She began by drilling holes in plates and gluing sticks on to anything miniature to adorn the plate.

After research and development, Nora took her “dressed up interchangeable dinnerware” concept on the road. Just as she had hoped the plates were a hit. “We were amazed at the response and still are,” she says. “People are clamoring over the platters and minis. Well done Nora!

What do you enjoy most about owning your own business?
Being in control of my own destiny. I never feel trapped. If I want to change something I can. If I want to change the look of my line, create something new, nix something old...I can. I also love working in my pjs with my babies running around. Not something most moms can (or want) to do.

What books are currently on your bedside table?
The Varieties of Scientific Experience-A Personal View of the Search for God by Carl Sagan; Second Glance by Jodi Picoult; Spider-Man versus Doc Ock (my son's early reader we are working on).


What inspires your designs and creativity?
MY KIDS...without a doubt. Number one. They are so creative. They juxtapose, inverse, turn things inside out everyday. As we grow up we have these learned traits of what design should be. Color wheels and trigonometry...watch kids. Watch them draw, play dress up...they do what feels right. It is super inspirational. They rely on instincts.

What is your most prized possession?
My family. There is not a single material possession that would really upset me if it was lost or destroyed.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Inner peace. Tranquility. Contentment. Not sure if it will ever happen.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Worry. I worry all the time. I wish I didn't. I worry about worrying too much. It is exhausting, stupid and a total waste of time and energy. I am trying to learn that old lesson of "what will be will be."

Profile: Thomas Burak

Late last year I began corresponding with designer Michael Devine. In a short period of time a long distance friendship began and we arranged to meet for dinner at Brasserie Balzar while in Paris for Maison & Objet.

Of course I was excited to meet in person; however, first time meetings can sometimes be strange situations. Luckily that was not the case at all. My husband and I got on brilliantly with Michael and his partner Thomas Burak. Michael was as entertaining and delightful as I had imagined and I was equally enchanted with the charming and debonair Mr. Burak. I knew that Thomas was a well-respected interior designer whose work has been showcased at the Hampton Designer Showhouse, but I was not fully aware of his genius and many talents.

After a few glasses of wine and talking until the wee hours of the morning, I learned that his real passion is tabletops and floral design. Not just pretty plates and a few cut flowers, but artistic displays of orchids, delphiniums and white quince. Thomas’ work has graced the tables of many private homes and functions as well as the famous Macy’s Flower Show in New York.


Michael and Thomas’ partnership is a clear case of one plus one makes three. On their own they are enormously talented but together they are magnificent. Our evening in Paris ended with an invitation to their home in New York this November for Thanksgiving dinner. I can’t wait to see the autumnal table Thomas creates; I also hear he is quite the cook. The occasion should provide tons of photo opportunities.



What artists do you most admire?
Renoir, Boucher and John Singer Sargeant. I also love and have a large collection of Russian Impressionist portraits from various artists painted in the 1950's. Some of these artists are recorded and recognized and others are not. What I love about this period and style is the depth of character and emotion.

What is the one thing in life you can't live without?
I possess many many things that I adore and greatly enhance my life. However, I can live without all the "Things" that I own because they only bring temporary happiness. There is one person I cannot live without and that is my partner Michael Devine, for he is truly divine and brings lasting happiness.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?
Having spent my entire career in the creation of home furnishing products and interior design, my greatest accomplishment is having brought beauty and happiness to those that are affected by what I have created.


What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Earthly happiness has so many facets. From the simplest form of spending an evening with dear friends, a loved one or a interesting new person to experiencing a new city or an old favorite such as Paris or Venice.

Having said that I wouldn't turn down a day of pampering at a Spa. The more I think about this question I could go on and on because if you live your life correctly each day should bring a form of earthly happiness knowing that tomorrow is never guaranteed.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Mame, The old girl had the best philosophy on life.


What books are on your bedside table?
I am currently obsessed with the Tony Duquette book, it is just such
great fantasy. Visions of Paradise, a beautiful garden book published in 1985 always seems to surface from time to time, particularly in the spring when you can't wait for your own garden to start flourishing. Also every imaginable shelter magazine, I'm a magazine junkie.

Who are your style icons?
John Fowler, Van Day Truex, Giorgio Armani, Grace Kelly and Nancy Lancaster.

What designers do you admire?
Charlotte Moss, Bunny Williams, Albert Hadley, Jamie Drake, Madelaine Castaing and Tony Duquette.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The fact that I am surrounded by beautiful things on a daily basis and mostly because I was blessed with the talent to appreciate and enjoy them.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Palmer Weiss

Named one of the domino 10 for 2008, San Francisco-based interior designer Palmer Weiss knows a thing or two about mixing traditional elegance with contemporary, playful details. Pretty interiors with bursts of color and a touch of Southern eccentricity are Palmer's hallmark and a nod to her Charleston, South Carolina upbringing.

Palmer credits her Southern roots as a major influence on her design aesthetic; however, 14 years of living in Northern California has allowed her to develop a unique style that reflects both cultures.


Palmer may not have any interior design degree but she certainly has an impressive résumé and a well-trained eye. Weiss attended Choate Rosemary Hall boarding school, Brown University with a BA in History of Art and received her MBA at J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Not to mention her mother is an accomplished interior designer. Palmer spent much of her childhood in her own version of on-the-job-training plugging away in her mom's sample closets and dissecting design magazines for inspiration.

Seeing as how the classics never go out of style Palmer Weiss is a name we are certain to see for years to come.

How would you describe your personal style?
I guess I am pretty classic, but with a pop or a twist. I like clean lines, but with very pretty or unexpected details – zebra runners, custom trims or using bright, patterned fabric on an antique bergere chair.


What is the one thing you can’t live without?
Outside of the obvious (my family), it would be SUN!

What books are currently on your bedside table?
The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan – just finished this very touching and witty recount of a young mother’s (successful) struggle with breast cancer.

The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person by AJ Jacobs – just about to start. The author read the entire encyclopedia A to Z in attempts to “fill in the gaps of his Ivy League education”. It is supposed to be hilarious and educational.

And then there are the magazines. There are always too many to fit ON my bedside table and they are instead piled mile-high to the side – they include Domino, House Beautiful, Bazaar, Vogue, Elle Décor, Travel and Leisure etc, etc. I create books of clippings that I reference constantly.

What inspires your designs and creativity?
I find a great deal of inspiration in nature and the colors found there. Living in the Bay Area, we are fortunately surrounded by so much natural beauty and can take advantage of it 365 days a year. Sometimes you think that colors could not possibly go together and then you see them occurring naturally in a flower, a bird’s feathers, etc and you think, actually, they can and they do beautifully!



Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
I am sure I should say the usual like Abraham Lincoln or Jesus, but I have to admit I would most like to meet Sean Hayes (the actor who played Jack on the Will and Grace series). He is the single funniest human being I have ever witnessed on television and I watched the show (and now TiVo’d versions) religiously.

To me, laughing and maintaining a sense of humor are the keys to life and he has provided lots of help in that aspect. As to what we’d do, ideally, I’d like to turn back the clocks so that I could be on the set while filming, but otherwise, I don’t really care – just hanging out would be fine!

What is your favorite luxury in life?
I am a working mother with 2 small kids. It is sleep. Hands down.

What is your most prized possession?
The Temple St Clair necklace that my mom gave me with two little cherub pendants – each inscribed with one of my daughters’ names.

Also, my very cool mid-century Lucite/brass lamp with ram’s heads on it. It was a great bargain find and also I am an Aries so I love the zodiac nod!

Who are your style icons?
You know I was asked this question in an interview before and I have to say, I am not really a big “icony” kind of person. This is not to say that I have not been influenced by others…I have! There are so many incredibly talented and stylish people that have definitely shaped my aesthetic both consciously and subconsciously – Oscar de la Renta, Jackie O, to name a few.

I was also fortunate to grow up with a very stylish and beautiful mother who probably had more influence on my sense of taste that anyone else. She is an interior designer (30 years) and even though our decorating styles are not exactly the same, I learned so much about creating warmth and beauty from her.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Doing what you love for a living (preferably, well!), having your health and spending as much relaxed time with your family and friends as possible.

Profile by Ronda Carman
Photos Matthew Millman

Profile: Sara Story

One of the designers that I instantly fell for last year was Sara Story. Sara was one of the domino 10 to watch for 2007. I felt an immediate connection to her beautiful, calming and sophisticated interiors which reflect her extensive travels and global upbringing.

Sara was born in Japan and has lived in Texas, California and New York. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of San Diego, and received a degree in Interior Architecture at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco.

Sara moved to New York City in 2001, where she worked with prominent designers. Keen to infuse her own vision into the world of interiors, she created Sara Story Design, a firm specializing in contemporary, eclectic and timeless interiors. Sara's designs are as beautiful as the designer herself.



How would you describe your personal style?
I aim for timeless interiors with elegance and edge…a space that is inviting yet sophisticated and fun.

What is the one thing in life you can’t live without?
My two little boys, Duke and Edward

What books are currently on your bedside table?
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and stacks of magazines…ranging from Vogue, ELLE Décor and Vanity Fair

What inspires your designs and creativity?
Travel and fashion inspire my interiors.


Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
I would love to meet Madonna. I would want to go to yoga class in the morning, then hit the recording studio, listen to her new tunes and have some cocktails together listening to all of her stories!

What is your favorite luxury in life?
First class travel.

What is your most prized possession?
My yellow canary diamond ring my husband just gave me.

Who are your style icons?
Tom Ford, Miuccia Prada, and Madonna

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
St.Barts with my family and friends.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Daniel Pafford

Daniel Pafford, his assistant Monica Emch and Alfi


I have been anxiously awaiting the April issue of Domino. Of course I was surprised and delighted when it arrived in Scotland earlier than expected. I loved so many of the ten up-and-coming decorators featured last April that I just had to know who would be the new ones to watch in 2008. I for one was not disappointed and I am thrilled to profile several of these great designers on All the Best over the next few weeks.

First up is Daniel Pafford, a former Political Science major and classic movies buff. Inspired by the urban landscape, Daniel moved from Southern Virginia to Manhattan to build a new career. Intrigued by the styles and interiors of such movies as The Women, Dial M for Murder, All About Eve, The Trouble with Harry and North by Northwest, Daniel began his on-the-job-training on the in-store design team at Calypso Home.

It’s was the photos of Daniel's rooms and his love of movies, especially 1940s, 50s and 60s classics, that struck a cord with me. After corresponding, talking over the past few days and seeing more of his work, I am certain he will strike a cord with many others too.


How would you describe your personal style?
Sophisticated and slightly old fashioned, with a little bit of an edge. My interiors are always a little bit of 40’s glamor mixed with 60’s modern and today’s latest fabrics. I enjoy adding controlled bursts of color here and there. In reference to fashion I enjoy a sear suckers suit, but then might wear it with shell toe Adidas.

What is the one thing in life you can’t live without?
My planner and blackberry! If I did not have these two things my days would be a haze of confusion and miscommunication.

What books are currently on your bedside table?
Best American Essays of 2007; The Reason for God; Domino magazine!

What inspires your designs and creativity?
Interiors of classic movies definitely inspire my creativity. I love not only the balance and harmony of the rooms, but the lifestyle. It’s is a most satisfying inspiration for my work. Secondly, it would be random shopping. I could go into 10 different home stores, pick one thing from each store and design a whole room.


Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
I would love to meet Hillary Clinton. She seems so driven and that just intrigues and inspires me. I would love to have lunch and talk about life and politics. There is something just out of this world about her.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Being able to sleep until I awake naturally every day. Being in control of my own schedule lets me not book anything before 11:00 a.m. and sometimes noon.

What is your most prized possession?
My pillow collection! I have quite a few and would not trade them for anything. I also have an Hermes watch that I am quite fond of!

Who are your style icons?
Carry Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, William Haines, David Hicks, and Kelly Wearstler.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
My idea of earthly happiness is being in complete control of ones own time. Only when we achieve this can we really be free. It is a daily aspiration for me. Also to be surrounded by beautiful and balanced rooms.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Profile: Robert Passal

In my opinion whimsy, drama, sophistication, refinement and coziness are all hallmarks of a great room. For me Robert Passal ticks all the right boxes. I am currently obsessed with his brilliant creativeness, especially the Gramercy Park residence he designed.

After receiving a degree from the State University of New York in Albany, Robert enrolled in the School of Interior Design at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and immediately realized that design was in his blood.

In May 2005, Robert Passal was selected as a featured designer in the nations most prestigious show house Kips Bay Decorator Show House. The New York Times, New York Newsday and The Financial Times all highlighted his work. The 2005 October Edition of House and Garden magazine features Robert’s work with the New York Yankees Jorge Posada in his Upper East Side residence in New York.

If I could fly anyone to Scotland to help me with my home I would employ Robert in a heartbeat. Maybe one day…