STORY TELLER

Tim Walker is brilliant! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! His work is riveting, magical and mesmerizing - beyond original in every possible way. It is opulent, romantic, outlandish and painstakingly realized with extraordinarily complicated set design and ethereal lighting. His photography is a visual feast- what a creative genius!

DINING AL FRESCO

It has really been quite an unusual summer in the South this year- positively cool by comparison to some years- so there have been multiple opportunities to date to enjoy dining out-of-doors. ( Now if it would only stop raining! )There is just something so spectacularly magical about a meal al fresco that automatically shifts one's state of mind and immediately requires a long, languid breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner! I'm quite certain my fondest summer memories involved a wonderful lazy lunch with pink wine and prosecco sitting poolside in Capri or under a wisteria laden pergola in Provence.

Enjoy the holiday weekend and please share your fondest summertime meal with me as with the weather forecast I will have to live vicariously!

CALIFORNIA HOMES

Having just returned from LA last week from our project in Hancock Park, which in my opinion is one of THE most beautiful and venerable neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles, I just want to move West! Southern California is idyllic- case in point- the whole week I was there it was a high of 71 everyday with NO humidity! Heaven indeed!

Which brings me to this particular blog- Studio William Hefner's new book California Homes, just out from Rizzoli, sums up all the many things good about their architecture and interiors. Airy, light-filled spaces always casual, always accommodating and perpetually relaxed in that quintessential Southern California way. William's own kitchen in their Hancock Park home is so very fresh and inviting as are so many other images in this beautiful book. The work portrayed is diverse yet classic in its scale and simplicity- bravo William- job well done!