Luxe & Lucid

[Re]defining Beauty

2011-11-28T22:48:09-08:00

I made a long overdue trip to the nail salon this weekend for a mani/pedi. And while scanning the assortment of possible nail colors from which to choose, I stumbled upon a stunning shade of peacock blue. It's one of my favorite colors in general - rich, complex, almost regal - so the thought of it on my fingertips was titillating. Sure enough, I love it. Not only do I think the shade of blue is absolutely stunning, but in a strange way, I think it complements my skin tone. It's funny then that some of the conservative loved ones in my life don't share my enthusiasm. Don't they see what I see? What's not to like? Some people think pretty is synonymous with conventional. But I think some of the prettiest things are those that are actually unconventional. I'm not talking about anything bizarre or distasteful. I mean looking beyond labels and stereotypes and thinking about what makes something beautiful ... the confidence with which a man carries himself, the complex ideas behind an abstract painting, the texture of an unusual plant. Of course, what's stunning will always catch our eye, but sometimes beauty and substance wear an unexpected guise.

My peacock blue manicure.

A study for “Woman Pulling Up Her Stocking” and “Salon in the Rue Des Moulins”.

Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec found inspiration in bars and brothels. Unseemly venues perhaps, but the artist found warmth and vivid color in these unlikely spectacles.

Felicity Brown’s 2010 collection was inspired by Toulouse-Lautrec’s work.

Tilda Swinton is a chameleon on and off-screen. She can look ethereal, severe or aristocratic.

Some people don’t like modern art or furniture. It’s hard to understand with gorgeous, sculptural shapes likes these.

Who needs gold or diamonds? Dahlia Kloss’ necklace is a showstopper without precious metals or stones.

Although two of the world’s deadliest snakes, the Rosy Boa and Malayan Coral Snake are also two of the most beautiful.

John Hawkes, Mick Jagger & Adrian Brody.

The talent and swagger of these men makes their unconventional looks incredibly sexy.

District Design: Birmingham

2011-11-18T10:28:22-08:00

I just picked up Bobby McAlpine’s new book, THE HOME WITHIN US, this week. Besides the fact that I am a big fan of his work and am thrilled to finally have access to great photos of his architecture and interiors, his book reminds me that Alabama, his home and base of operations, is a designer destination. I have always loved the south and have visited many of its magical cities – New Orleans, Charleston, Savannah – but I have yet to make it to Montgomery, Huntsville or Birmingham. My old comrade and fellow designer at Solis Betancourt, Meredith Leach (now McBrearty) was from Alabama and always raved about its beauty, its charm, and of course, its shopping. As the holiday and travel season descends upon us, what better city for “District Design” to visit than sweet home Alabama’s own Birmingham.

Bobby McAlpine's book is available in stores and online.

WHAT'S THE CHICEST FURNISHINGS RESOURCE IN BIRMINGHAM?

Circa Interiors has amazing pieces for the home, both antiques and upholstery. If you’re in Birmingham be sure to stop in their shop on Culver Road.

WHERE DO YOU GO TO FIND ACCESSORIES?

Table Matters and at Home in Homewood.

Alex Marshall dinnerware and Woodbury flatware set available at Table Matters.

IS THERE A GREAT LINEN SHOP IN BIRMINGHAM?

Suite Dreams in Mountainbrook Village carries lines such as Matouk, Matteo, Archipelgo, Peacock Alley, and more.

HOW DO YOU WORK YOUR FASHION LOOK INTO YOUR INTERIORS?

I love the look of layers and texture for fall. In terms of your home, I think the more personal layers you can add, the more interesting. Of course, like your wardrobe, knowing when to say when is important!

Layered looks in both design and fashion (Cotelac and Fendi).

WHAT FASHION DESTINATION CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? WHAT STORE EMBODIES YOUR LOOK?

I was introduced to Theodora (Anna Sui, Tracey Reese and more) in Homewood Village during college when I would go home with friends to see their families in Birmingham. Marella in Mountainbrook Village is another chic spot for dresses. Her sister store, Carriage House is in my hometown of Decatur.

Trina Turk vest at Marella.

WHAT'S THE BEST KEPT SHOPPING SECRET IN BIRMINGHAM?

Betsy Prince’s annual shoe sale – when brands such as Ferragamo are up to 50% off!

An open-toe bootie at Betsy Prince.

WHAT BIRMINGHAM DINING SPOT DO YOU LOVE FOR BOTH ITS MENU AND ITS DECOR?

Chez FonFon in Five Points for delicious French food and authentic ambiance. Urban Standard is a unique spot downtown. It’s a restaurant with interesting accessories (such as taxidermied animals and magnifying glasses) and contemporary light fixtures.

The men behind Chez FonFon - Frank Stitt, Zoubir Tabout and Patrick J. Dunne (photo by Howard L. Puckette/Southern Accents).

Thanks Mer! Tricia xo

Check out www.fabulousboutiques.com for a fabulous list of Birmingham shopping destinations. You can find examples of Meredith McBrearty’s work on her eponymous website.

Chez Huntley - update 11/13

2011-11-13T15:18:36-08:00

I am happy to write that the public spaces of chez Huntley are more or less complete. Hallelujah! And while I would love to give my readers a comprehensive 360 degree tour … it aint’ gonna happen. Apparently divulging too much about a project on ones blog limits its exposure elsewhere, I’ve learned. When did design get so damned complicated?! So alas another sneak peek will have to suffice. Hopefully the pix are enough of a fix – enjoy!

Tricia xo

Chez Huntley - update 11/07

2011-11-03T16:56:59-07:00

There has been a lot of activity at chez Huntley since my last update. I gave myself a Thanksgiving deadline for the public spaces, so once the calendar read October I had to get my a-- in gear. I actually like the pressure of a deadline. It gives you clarity and forces you to be decisive. And as I’ve mentioned before, that doesn’t come naturally when one is both the client and the designer. There is still quite a bit of work to be done, but the next few weeks will be full of exciting developments. For now, enjoy a sneak peek (emphasis on peek) at some of the details installed thus far.

Tricia xo

Goth & Gorgeous

2011-10-30T19:28:00-07:00

I probably won’t be hired anytime soon by clients with a dark, wicked sense of style and a penchant for all things goth. After all, I live in Washington DC. Oh, but wouldn’t it be fun. I said to a colleague recently that the more homogenized design becomes, the crazier I want to be – with my interiors, with fashion and in art. And what better time to embrace the avant-garde and darker side of style than on Halloween. It may be just a fantasy, but I would love to find some risk-taking, live-out-loud clients, throw the rule book out the window and create an irreverent, unconventional and totally goth rockstar pad.

- THE CLIENTS -

I hear they are breaking up, but Jack White and Karen Elson will always be one of my favorite couples. So unique, so dramatic.

- THE SALON -

A space filled with daring, sculptural pieces.

- THE DINING ROOM -

Brutalism, Bacon, Blackman-Cruz. Throw in some vintage and Wearstler and you have one drop-dead gorgeous dining room.

- THE BOUDOIR -

The overall concept may lean toward hardcore, but the bedroom should still be a lair of love. Edgy with an underlying sexy femininity.

Tricia ( ^ ^ )

For more dark and delicious inspiration, check out past Luxe & Lucid Halloween posts Mad About Macabre and Diabolique. Have a scary and scintillating Halloween!

* items above c/o 1st Dibs, Blackman Cruz, Flair, Fort Street Studio, Ironies, Jean de Merry, Ralph Pucci, The Rug Company and Usona

DCNY

2011-10-16T20:49:47-07:00

I had a busy week. Meetings, travel, design events, etc. A jam-packed schedule isn’t necessarily enjoyable mid-stream, but I always love the results. I meet new people, see interesting things, get inspired, and in general, shake things up a bit. Between DC and New York, I stumbled upon some fabulous finds this past week. Whether it was design or fashion, food or art, it seemed that new and exciting things were available and in abundance. Of course there is never enough time to take it all in. It’s a good thing I am able to document it all with my trusty iphone and enjoy the fruits of my labor long after my work and the week is done.

- SOURCING RUGS & TEXTILES -

I love beautiful textiles and rugs. Especially when they are assembled together in a stunning collection. Subtle, graphic, textural or glamorous – it doesn’t really matter to me. Gorgeous is gorgeous regardless of content or genre.

- WINDOW SHOPPING -

Fall is always a delicious time for fashion. Even if you can’t purchase everything you see behind the glass, you can certainly draw inspiration from the displays and create new, eclectic ensembles within your existing wardrobe. I personally am all over this season’s bold colors, layers, baggie pants and fur jackets.

- SCOUTING FOR VINTAGE FURNISHINGS -

You can troll all day on the internet, but there is nothing like seeing the real thing. I can’t get enough of unique yet elegant, statement-making furniture. Unfortunately, I need another chair like I need a hole in the head. It was hard to resist these stellar vintage finds.

- DROPPING BY AN ARTIST’S STUDIO -

I’m a big fan of Julie Wolfe’s work. So to see her paintings and jewelry in-residence was quite a treat. Plus Julie is such a cool chic – interesting, laidback and irreverent. The evening was hosted by George Hemphill and marked by contemporary artwork, incredible jewelry, wine and a “deconstructed food installation”. Loved it.

- BELLYING UP TO THE BAR -

It wasn’t my last stop this weekend, but it was definitely one of the more photogenic. Ted’s Bulletin is a throwback to yesteryear with the style and ambiance to match. If dining, I would stick to the burgers and shakes. If you’re there for a cocktail, order a Jessie Clark. Besides the delicious concoction of chamomile-infused scotch, orange marmalade and chocolate bitters, the drink is served with a perfectly round ice cube produced in seconds by The Macallan ice ball machine. An entertaining and purposeful gadget whether you’re a scotch aficionado or not.

Tricia xo

The Apple that Changed the World

2011-10-06T20:49:43-07:00

We lost a visionary this week. Steve Jobs died at the age of 56. I grew up listening to stories about Steve Jobs (my father was in the tech industry*) and watched as his products developed over the decades and changed our world. Anyone my age or older has seen a remarkable transformation in technology since our youth. And with the death of Jobs, the enormity of those changes becomes impressively clear. He took a medium that was once tedious and cumbersome and turned it into a thing of style, beauty and finesse. Moreover, he did it from the inside out – his technology informed his designs. Farewell to a renegade, an artist, a pioneer and a true titan of our time.

* An Apple Anecdote

My father’s career was in the disk drive business. He met with Steve Wozniak (Jobs’ partner, upper right) in the late 70’s when they were still working out of a small house in Silicon Valley. For a half hour or so, Wozniak walked my father around the house and discussed the Apple “kits” they were selling and franchising opportunities - all while other members of the Apple team built boards and soldered components in the background. Afterwards, my father thanked Mr. Wozniak for his time, caught a plane back home and reported to his boss in the morning. His recommendation?

“Those guys are going no place. Forget that idea.”

Oh well. Tricia ; )

Mother Nature, The Original Muse

2011-09-30T05:00:00-07:00

I created the inspiration board below for a client this week. The concept of “bespoke-modern-organic” is specific to this particular project, but it’s also an underlying theme I try to channel in my work. I often find that design is at its best when it is inspired by something true and natural. And I don’t mean conservative. Mother nature is not exactly bourgeoisie; she rocks some pretty crazy stuff. She informs some of the most interesting, avant garde art and design. She’s the perfect muse.

Samples of stone slabs and my Christmas wrapping from last year.

The “bloom” of the coolest plant ever, Asclepias (aka Monkey Balls). A pillow in the new Kelly Wearstler fashion boutique at Bergdorf’s.

The underside of a mushroom being prepped for dinner. Several pleating options from a favorite textile manufacturer in the DC Donghia showroom.

The ribcage of a dinosaur skeleton at the Museum of Natural History. A sculpture at Darrell Dean in Georgetown.

A beautiful shell I found on the beach in Chappaquiddick last summer. House of Lavande’s Seashell Cuff.

The incredible artist, Julie Wolfe, took this photo in the Amazon rainforest while traveling via the Art in Embassies program. My chic, French friend Sophie wears this delicate, yet modern bracelet with flair.

The simple beauty of a bird's nest finds its way to a handcrafted gold ring.

Thanks ma’ for all the goodies!

Tricia xo

Tune Out and Turn On

2011-09-22T20:53:28-07:00

I’m inspired as of late. I’m finding crazy/wonderous/beautiful things everywhere I look. It’s like I’ve snapped out of a foggy stupor. I haven’t discovered a new vitamin or taken up Buddhism, but I have made a committed effort to unplug from the oversaturated and under-inspired world of regurgitated design. It’s become pretty obvious lately that most of what’s online, in magazines and in the stores is the same recycled concept over and over again – i.e., a random mix of genres with the ubiquitous pop of color, pseudo-ethnic pillows and obligatory mid-century focal piece. Bleh, enough! In this day and age it seems that the internet has become our main source of inspiration - I think that may actually be one of the seven signs of the apocalypse – and everyone is plugged into the same circuit. So as one who is not only guilty of this crime, but who champions the cause (yes, I realize as a blogger I am the pot calling the kettle black), I say turn off your smartphone, log off Facebook, ignore this week’s blog feed and look around you. There is beauty in the world!

Tricia xo

Scenes from a Vacation - Part II (finally!)

2011-09-13T11:12:29-07:00

As mentioned in my last post, I added an extra day to my northern California vacation so I could spend some time in San Francisco before heading back east. I hadn’t been to the bay area in years and had honestly forgotten what all the fuss was about. But I figured why not make a pit stop in an old stomping ground and segue a bit more gently back into life in DC. I was more than taken with the heavenly weather (68 degrees in August) and the lively urban atmosphere – crowded cafes, locals out walking their dogs and great shopping – in Pacific Heights where we spent the day. And although the word “hip” could be used to describe the area’s watering holes, shops and fashions, it didn’t smack of trends like some cities. San Francisco is like the popular kid in high school: confident and cool without even trying. And a vibe like that may as well be crack to someone like me. I couldn’t get enough. Shopping I did - and successful I was.

Thanks San Fran for sharing your mojo with me!

CIELO A store full of gorgeous, high-end European brands.

I picked up an Ann Demeulemeester blazer with chic, refined detailing …

… a scrumptious orchid-colored puffy jacket with cropped sleeves and sweet yet almost "goth" kitten-princess necklace.

NEST The perfect name for a boutique with a homespun yet vagabond flair.

New and vintage toys (check out the gorilla!), artwork, jewelry, furnishings and accessories.

I purchased this silkscreened tiger tote, printed cotton robe and wood handle purse … and love them all.

HEIDI SAYS SHOE SALON The sole-ful sister store of the Heidi Says fashion trifecta.

I found these flattering and totally versatile nude, patent leather wedges from Vera Wang Lavender.

ELIZABETH CHARLES A uniquely curated collection of fashions and accessories.

This boutique was uh-MA-zing! I fell in love with everything.

JONATHAN ADLER Ebullient, over-the-top fun from this eponymous shop’s designer.

CROSSROADS Vintage and consignment clothing, shoes, etc.

My [sporty, crunchy, anti-fashion] friend Lori nearly died of heart failure when I walked out of the dressing room in this get-up. Yes I bought a pair of gold lamé, parachute pants and a cropped grey hoodie. I think they’re fabulous, comfortable and totally hot.

JURLIQUE Skincare, bath and body products.

My masseuse in Sonoma recommended that I pick up a bottle of essential eucalyptus oil and add it to my morning shower to help relieve my nagging cough.

OTD Out-The-Door Vietnamese restaurant.

We recharged at Out-The-Door with noodles, dumplings and wine. Yummm!

SWIG Last stop ... cocktails of course!

With a sexy vibe, live music and bar stocked to the hilt - this club was the perfect finish to a perfect day!

Tricia xosf

M.I.A.

2011-09-08T19:01:26-07:00

Not exactly.

I actually have a fabulous post ready to go. I just can't seem to publish the damn thing. Too many photos, too many megabytes. I've tried to upload it about forty times over the last five days and nothing seems to work. I am more than a little suspicious that Verizon - and our ridiculously slow internet speed - is the culprit. That company is the devil! Unfortunately that means "Scenes from a Vacation - part II" won't be seen for a few more days ... until I can make it over to my boyfriend's house and borrow his computer.

Sorry all. What can I say? Sometimes this side venture is a little less luxe & lucid and a lot more luxe & looney!

Tricia ; )

Scenes from a Vacation - Part I

2011-08-19T03:23:28-07:00

I just spent five days in Northern California with six girlfriends from home. We’re known

as “the nine” (I’ve mentioned them before) and were obviously short two on this trip. We

get together every summer, but this year we decided to do something extra special. To

round up that many women with husbands and careers and kids is no small task, so the

fact that we accomplish it at all is a big deal. An even bigger deal is how long we have

sustained our friendships. They date back to high school, grammar school and even pre-

school for two of us. Our longevity and stamina definitely warrant a celebration and where

better to do that than wine country USA – Sonoma and Napa. It was the perfect venue.

Gorgeous vistas, delicious food and the chance to talk, laugh and share with friends I rarely

see, but couldn’t live without. Cheers to my crazy, spirited, hilarious gaggle of girlfriends!

Night one decompressing on our deck with cocktails.

Our house was situated at the top of a mountain with views of the whole valley.

We were picked up bright and early on day two for a day of wine tasting.

That’s our driver in front leading us up a path to our first winery, Quixote.

Quixote is not your run-of-the-mill winery. The unusual architecture, incredible art

collection and one-of-a-kind wine barrels with their candy-colored hoops added to the

magical, Willy Wonka-esque atmosphere. And then of course, there was the wine.

At the second winery, Honig, I found my Napa vibe …very chiiillll.

For our third stop, we enjoyed a hillside lunch with the owners of the Frias

Family Vineyard. It was a lovely, low-key transition between wineries.

The final winery of the day was Flora Springs in St. Helena. Thank goodness for our laid-back

and tolerant guide, Travis. We were pretty pickled by that point, so you can only imagine what a

handful we were. He took it all in stride and treated us to perhaps our favorite tour of the day.

We spent day 3 in Sonoma at the spa and finished with dinner at Della Santina’s.

Our group split up on our last day in wine country. Four of us chose to go riding on the Kunde Estate.

The breathtaking views and our fantastic guide Dominic created a near perfect afternoon.

One last night of delicious wine and food at the award-winning Bistro Jeanty in Yountville – the

tomato soup in puff pastry was a big hit with the girls – and then it was back home for most of the

group. My friend Lori (far left) and I spent an extra day in San Francisco … but that’s another post.

Read about San Francisco in my next post, Scenes from a Vacation – Part II.

Tricia xo