Graphic and Modern.

Last weekend, The New York International Gift Fair was held in New York City at the Javits Center. Among the new talents to show their collections was Heather Lins. Heather, who is based out of Madison, Wisconsin, offers these Most Excellent and very eye-catching bold, graphic pillows, place mats, napkins and coasters. I love a silly, whimsical detail thrown into an interior design every so often. Heather Lins' accessories would certainly be worth grabbing for in that event.

As she states, "We design home accessories with a fresh point of view. Graphic and modern yet familiar and handmade, our pillows and table linens are studies in contradiction." Her collection consists of three individual lines: Eye Chart, Numbered Edition and Conversation Pieces. Their look is very crisp, clean, tailored, unfussy and absolutely recognizable. The beauty of these accessories is that they require no formal introductions, they are quirky and quite unexpected. The Conversation Pillows, when grouped together, make a very fun statement with a nice modern edge.



EYE CHART

3-D Eye Chart Pillow - Comes with a pair of 3-D glasses
• 17" × 17"; cyan, red & black ink
• Screen printed by hand with water-based inks
• 5% down, 95% feather insert
• Hidden zipper
• Machine wash cold, tumble dry low, iron on high heat. Expect 5% shrinkage.
• Sewn and printed in the U.S.A.



NUMBERED EDITION

Numbered Edition Place mats, Napkins and Coasters. All screen-printed with water-based inks. Hand Sewn in USA.

CONVERSATION PIECES

Conversation Pieces Pillow, no. 1
• 17" × 17"
• Screen printed by hand with water-based inks
• 5% down, 95% feather insert
• Hidden zipper
• Machine wash cold, tumble dry low, iron on high heat. 5% shrinkage.
• Sewn and printed in the USA

Conversation Pieces Pillow, no. 3
• 16" ×12"
• Screen printed by hand with water-based inks
• 5% down, 95% feather insert
• Hidden zipper
• Machine wash cold, tumble dry low, iron on high heat. 5% shrinkage.
• Sewn and printed in the U.S.A.

Conversation Pieces Pillow, no. 2
• 12" × 16"
• Screen printed by hand with water-based inks
• 5% down, 95% feather insert
• Hidden zipper
• Machine wash cold, tumble dry low, iron on high heat. 5% shrinkage.
• Printed and sewn in the U.S.A.

The City of Light. George V.

I was chatting with clients of mine who had recently returned from a trip, just across the pond, to The City of Light. The conversation centered around the main attraction of their trip. While their visit to Paris received high marks, what stood out most for them was not The Eiffel Tower, but instead their hotel... George V. With a terrace off their room that directly looked out at the Eiffel tower, I can understand why it was not too difficult making a stay in this 1928 landmark hotel an experience worth talking about.


After years of sad decline, the George V had a massive, three year $125 million renovation by new owner Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia (who paid $167 million for the property). The hotel lobby fills with soft light, the guest rooms are amongst the largest in the city - many with private terraces overlooking Paris. The restaurant at George V is amongst the finest in the city as is the state-of-the-art indoor pool and spa.


I believe it is the smallest details that make the largest and greatest impressions. Such is the case with the flowers at George V.

While walking around the lobby of The Four Seasons George V Paris, you may or may not see a famous guest, but you’ll most certainly see the work of a celebrity… a celebrity florist that is. This design detail is Most Excellent and worth mentioning.

The George V, has set the standard in the trend in blooms, where flowers aren't simply accoutrement – they're front and center. A former runway model, Jeff Leatham is the hotel's resident florist who's also done private orders for the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss and George Clooney. Leatham is no shrinking violet: Taught by his father, a landscape artist, Leatham has no formal training, but he definitely has an eye for the fabulous. To enter the George V is to be greeted by up to 17,000 blooms (all imported from Holland). More than just flower arrangement, it’s an orchestration of shape and color that marks a new kind of interior design.

And we're not talking baby's breath either. With an entourage of seven assistants, Leatham designs over 23 major arrangements for the lobby alone. Past displays have included otherworldly calla lilies toppling out of gargantuan vases, "drowned" orchids, roses in fizzy water and hundreds of bright orange tulips standing sentinel. You never know what you're going to get. The designs (all bold and beautiful) are created anew each week and refreshed daily… if not hourly!

A room with a view



George V Paris

It is no surprise that I love beautiful things and creating them. I am thankful for the ability to do this and the ability to find beauty in those things around me.

The 18th of August is a somber day for me. My grandmother, who is no longer with us, was born on this day. She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever known. She is responsible for teaching me the most important lesson. I have made this lesson the foundation of my life:

"Always be thankful for all that you have and generous with all whom you Love."

Sunday in the Park.

Central Park.

Steps away from Jean Georges and 15 CPW is Bethesda Terrace in New York City's Central Park. I have always said that nothing says class like a fountain. Well, The Bethesda Fountain is all that and then some. One of the most recognizable icons in all of Central Park, this Most Excellent fountain looks over the hundreds of visitors that come every day to enjoy the view of the Lake and relax at the "heart" of Central Park.

The sculpture that tops it, The Angel of The Waters, was designed by Emma Stebbins in 1873. Stebbins designed the statue to celebrate the new Croton Aqueduct which not only fed the fountain, but also supplied fresh water to a city that had long been plagued by infectious diseases caused by an unsafe water supply. Besides being a favorite destination of park visitors in search of a cool place to spend a summer afternoon The Fountain is also a celebrity in its own right. It has probably appeared in more movies than any other monument in the park, exuding a timeless romantic charm that makes it a perfect backdrop for cinematographers.

In the TV Series, Gossip Girl, the terrace is a sanctuary for Serena van der Woodsen, (I just love that name), when she is troubled. The statue plays a part in the play and movie, Angels in America by Tony Kushner. The 1973 movie version of the musical play Godspell opens at the Bethesda Fountain. The fountain is also the final scene of the song "That's How You Know" in the 2007 film Enchanted.

This is a destination worth adding to any New York City visit.

"That's How You Know". Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey in the motion picture Enchanted

Boeing-Boeing.

A trip to New York City would not be complete without seeing a Broadway show. That's why my upcoming visit to the Big Apple will include a stop over at the Longacre Theatre where "Boeing-Boeing" is currently playing. The play, which won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival tells the story of Bernard, an architect living in Paris, who has successfully juggled three Fiancées who are all flight attendants. Bernard's housekeeper reluctantly plays romantic air-traffic controller as they fly in and out of his swank bachelor pad. But when an old college pal visits, things get rather turbulent! Schedules change, flights are delayed and chaos ensues in this hysterical, high-flying farce!

I find the set of this play to be Most Excellent. Designed by Rob Howell, the set plays homage to the 1960's. Contemporary classic furniture such as Barcelona chairs in white leather are combined with glass, chrome, round mirrors, a Tibetan carpet with a whirlwind design, French antiques and classic wood moldings that span around the stage but are intersected by a line that soars from one end to the other - very much the way a plane appears when lifting off from the ground into the sky, are sharp details.

The set has a white neutral foundation, with a series of doors that are recessed into the walls around the room. Accent colors of blue, yellow and red are prominent around the stage. Each color represents one of Bernard's Fiancées and their respective airline's signature color. Circular details are found throughout the set. A round port hole in the door to the kitchen, a round coffee table, round mirrors over the desk, tri-colored circles applied to the face of the office desk and a constellation of circles in the center rug of the main furniture grouping in the middle of the stage. Again, each circle of the rug appropriately colored in hues of blue, yellow and red. Naturally, lighting design and costume design follows the tri-color concept and anchors the show. This play is about running around in circles. The action is non-stop, continuous and crazy and the set only reinforces that.

Christine Baranski, Mark Rylance, who won the Tony Award for Best Actor in this play, Bradley Whitford, Gina Gershon, Kathryn Hahn and Mary McCormack star in the production. The show is directed by Matthew Warchus with lighting by Hugh Vanstone.

Gina Gershon

From left. Gina Gershon, Christine Baranski, Bradley Whitford, Mark Rylance, Mary McCormack and Kathryn Hahn.