The Wolseley in London is such a lovely place to lunch. The room is decadent, and so is the food. Just look at this image; oysters, snails and a schnitzel topped with a fried egg, capers and sardines. This is a meal that takes many green salads to recover from. How divine.
I came across architect, Albert Frey’s house today, a small mid-century modern masterpiece in the heart of Palm Springs. Houses that look like they’ve sprung from the terrain that they’re built on are always so beautiful, especially when the surrounding landscape makes its way indoors, as is the case with Frey’s house. Giant boulders encroach on the space in a way that makes it impossible to ignore the fact that you’re on top of Mount San Jacinto. “Before he began construction, Frey studied the angle of sun throughout the seasons in order to site the home,” writes Architectural Digest. “The results are unparalleled views and a unique connection to the environment.”
A Bloody Mary is such a middle-aged drink. Maybe it’s because I remember my parents and their friends knocking them back over Sunday lunch. Just the thought of tomato juice, vodka and a celery stick used to send my tummy into a twist. I’m still not a fan of tomatoes, so I’m unlikely to drink one in my adult life. But it does seem like a smart start to the New Year. A fruit. A vegetable. Vodka. This one’s even got a rasher of bacon. Salut!
I love to walk a beach on an overcast day, when the sky and sea is a watercolour of lilacs and greys and the sand is cool and damp under my feet. There are no kites, parasols and coolers to distract the eye from nature’s raw beauty. The sun, in all its glory, demands so much, that it leaves little room for much else. At it’s height, the light is white and blinding, unlike moody days when the tones are muted and nuanced. Of course, we must see the majesty of a sun-filled sky, in order to appreciate the quiet beauty of an overcast one. And vice versa.
Baskets are such an inexpensive, and playful way to decorate a wall. We have a heap of baskets that my Mum brought back from Zimbabwe, that over the years have moved from one wall to another. You can create a striking, symmetrical design, or opt for something more haphazard, as shown here.
I love the person daring enough, playful enough, to use their own walls as a canvas for an abstract painting. Also, pink and orange is a truly winning colour combination. Can’t afford giant art? Invite your friends over for a painting party. Give them a wall. Some brushes. And a palette of your favourite hues. If it’s not the Rauschenberg you hoped for, just paint over it, and start again. It’s only paint, after all.
I love curved design –– oblong mirrors, round staircases, sofas shaped like a kidney beans –– as I think it brings warmth, softness and play to a room. From the 1950s Federico Munari armchairs, to the vintage console by Pucci de Rossi, to that earthenware dish by Helle Damkjaer, this Paris apartment is all curves. Even the bathtub from Leroy Merlin is shaped like an egg. Have a look around, you may just want to move in.
Look at this festive display at the Dior store in Paris. Air balloons yes, but they also look like Fabergé eggs. I’ve always loved sumptuous, over-the-top window displays, and the Europeans do go all out at Christmas time, transforming shop windows into pages from a magical storybook. Toronto is a new city, and a multi-faithed one at that. So, I do appreciate the way the city respectfully celebrates its many people and faiths at this time of year. Type Books always does something whimsical and unique with its window, as does the lovely clothing boutique, Gaspard. I haven’t ventured out that much this holiday season, but I have noticed an abundance of white lights. More than usual, in fact. Bon Noël and Happy Hanukkah.
I was at a lovely flower shop yesterday, and the conversation between the owner and I veered to flower names, and how the English love them. Daisy. Iris. Rose. I met a girl called Amaryllis when I was a teenager, and ever since reading Kevin Henkes’ delightful children’s book, I’ve wanted to meet a Chrysanthemum. At the post office today, I did meet a sweet young girl with candyfloss pink hair called Magnolia. Her mum loved Gone with the Wind, and turned to the film for inspiration when naming her three daughters. Scarlett. Savannah. And Magnolia. “Maggie is my Starbucks name. Otherwise I am always Magnolia.”
If I owned a cabin in the woods this is how I’d decorate every room. A mix of lake life, oars and mallards, kantha textiles, and plenty of well worn wood. I can imagine whiling away a million of hours in this cozy nook. Can’t you?
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