I spent the afternoon on The Golden Horn, the body of water that stretches between Asia & Europe and provides access to The Black Sea. In ancient times, access was limited by a giant chain that stretched between the two lands, deterring undesirables from entering.
It became known as The Golden Horn when Zeus transformed his young pregnant lover Lo, into a white heifer to protect her from the wrath of his furious wife, Hera. Lo gave birth to daughter, Ceroessa on the banks of The Golden Horn, who was then reared into womanhood by water sprite, Semestra. Ceroessa hooked up with Poseidon, god of the seas, and had a baby boy, Byzas. He was raised by spring fairy, Bysias. Byzas became the founder of the Byzantium.
Who doesn’t love a story about gods, fairies, sprites & nymphs! And a little adultery for spice. Although the lands that edge The Golden Horn are no longer grassy hills perfect for grazing, they do show off some spectacular housing, perched precariously on its edge.
A favourite product of mine. I never tire of rope in any of its incarnations. I was pleased to see others feel the same. You can often see my stamp through the entanglement of rope hanging through beams and holding up mirrors, in my shop or commercial interiors, props swing through the space, ships sail from the bannisters and you may even come across a couch hanging mid-air.
Although it is by no means a new fad, with the likes of The Ace installation in Palm Springs and the range by Christien Meindertsma for Thomas Eyck, it still rocks my world.
These are some new rope-y products hitting the scene ready to make your pirate ship or lighthouse keepers quarters all the more authentic! Some of my favs are: Missoni lights & rug, Christine Rackel ‘big bond’ rope light, Tafarkitektkontor version of a fishermans float and Lindsey Adelman’s knotty bubble.
I have long admired the fabulous Kit Kemp and am now lucky enough to know her. I photographed her for a Harper’s Bazaar shoot at her home in London some years ago & then included Crosby Street Hotel as the must stay in The Stylist’s Guide to NYC. Kit Kemp is the genius behind Firmdale Hotels and their amazing interiors.
For my brief stop (less than 24 hours ) in London en route to the Milan Furniture Fair, I was guest at the gorgeous Haymarket Hotel.
In signature Kit style, the colours are bold & the fabrics are in print, surrounded by craft meets art, naïve, sculpture & contemporary art. She mixes the natural (driftwood, stones, faux bois, palm tree stumps), textiles of ikat, suzani, paisley, vintage & new furniture, incredible light fittings and overscaled & subtle art pieces both wallmounted & sculptural, with a sense of humour.
If you love interiors, she is at the forefront of fabrics, finishes, art & furniture. This is interior consideration, knowledge & comfort at its best. Thanks Kit & Craig!
N.B. Don’t miss the shooting gallery covered in De Gournay wallpaper mural or the underground indoor pool and surrounds.
Two very happy things happened this morning. I visited 10 Corso Como and I saw Ilse Crawford. Although too shy (hard to believe) to introduce myself, she is one of the reasons I am the stylist I am today. I have every copy of Elle Decoration that she edited in the 90s. She was a huge influence on how I looked at design, products, photographs and other greats, like stylist/artist Sue Skeen, photographers, James Merrell & Martin Morel amongst many others. All these people continue to inspire & mould me as their greatness changes with the times.
I am lucky enough to have inherited my grandparent’s amateur shell collection. They collected it throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s from the shores of the Northern Peninsula on the coast of NSW. It is not in any shape complete or outstanding, but reminds me of them fishing, beachcombing & swimming every day. It was housed in random recycled boxes & jars, showing me where they were shopping & what they were eating! A tiny box from David Jones, a cardboard coffee container with metal lid, glass jars with orange & yellow lids, pin boxes etc.
On my recent South Coast roadtrip I bought a similar shell collection. I discovered it at Turnbull Bros Antiques in Milton and complete with a display cabinet, which I kindly left behind.
The collection consists of some fabulously kitsch souvenir pieces (including the Harbour Bridge) as well as bailing shells, kelp, nautilus, sea urchin, a seadragon, giant oysters, conical, olive, big, small & spiky scallops.
The story goes, it was collated by a fisherman’s wife from Moruya River (south of Milton) where the river meets the sea, from the 1960s. Although not precious, it is going to be displayed on a high purpose built shelf, pride of place, in my venture opening next week, The Fish Shop: 22 Challis Ave, Potts Point. Come & check it out.
