Last night’s book launch was truly a fabulous celebration of this beautiful big book. The book marks Thomas’ 20^th anniversary in Australia, it offers a breathtaking view of magnificent homes from a harbour-front villa and bayside Italianate residence in Melbourne, to a stylish retreat in Florida and a French farmhouse in Luberon. Each chapter is accompanied by a description of the design process for each transformation.

Thank you for having us a long Thomas, your book is sitting on the coffee table in our showroom for all our visitors to enjoy.

Me and Thomas

 

My must have design books list continued….

The Great American Decorator, by Billy Baldwin
We love Billy, he is truly amazing. They called him the “Dean of American Decorating.” Billy Baldwin famously conceived Cole Porter’s dark brown library and the vibrant red cotton chintz that defined fashion editor Diana Vreeland’s apartment. His famous clients included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Baby and Bill Paley. 

Billy was once quoted something that rings true to me, “be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.” I couldn’t agree more.

The Allure of Style, by Mary McDonald
Award-winning interior designer Mary McDonald inspires readers to combine old-fashioned elegance with the joy of fearless, exuberant decorating.  Mary is consistently ranked one of House Beautiful’s top 100 designers.

 She is so chic and a fabulous designer and seeing all her spaces in one book will be a certainly be a treat.

In fact, over the coming months we are going to spoilt with some of America’s greatest interior designers releasing their own books.  It is such an amazing time for so many designers, congratulations to Thomas and each of the below designers on their success. I cannot wait to look over your beautiful creations.

My must have design book list:

Thomas Hamel Residence…..tick!

AT HOME: A Style for Today with Things from the Past, by Suzanne Rheinstein.

 The book features six distinctive homes that express Suzanne’s relaxed yet elegant style, including her own homes in Los Angeles and New York. If you have ever had the pleasure of dropping into Hollyhock, Suzanne’s magnificent antique filled store you will know what a treat you are in for (and if you haven’t, you must).

The world of Madeline Castaing, by Emily Evans Eerdmans
Emily has not only one book, not two, but three and a legendary shop on rue Jacob in Paris……where does she find the time! Her previous books include Classic English Design and Antiques and Regency Redux.

Emily offers something unique, she is renowned for French blend of neoclassicism, Proustian romanticism, and pure wit.

Interior Portraits, by Victoria Hagan
One of today’s most influential designers, Victoria Hagan exploded onto the scene in 1988 when New York magazine devoted the cover of its design issue to one of her rooms. Since then she has become renowned for her intelligent integration of architectural and interior design. Absolutely adore her fresh very clean look.

more to come……..

The China Seas range includes geometrics, floral, and Chinoiserie patterns that are continuously used by top American Interior Designers. The colours and patterns are timeless, making them perfect for either classic or modern interiors. They are hand screened on a linen/cotton ground. China Seas designs are also available in wallpaper.

Les Indiennes fabrics are a modern interpretation of traditional Indian motifs designed by Mary Mulcahy. The fabrics are made in India using the traditional Kalamkari process, which does not cause pollution and provides fair trade for over 50 families in the Indian village where there are made. The patterns are printed on organically grown cotton using natural dyes. The results are soft, beautiful and timeless. Quilts, cushions and bed linen is also available in coordinating patterns.

We love this month magazine with the bright yellow and white awning featured on the front, very Hamptons indeed.  Skip to page 76 and low and behold there is my Hamptons outfit waiting for me. Thank you Belle for loving our lines and for producing such a fun read month after month.

The name Katherine Rally comes from a talented husband and wife duo, Katherine and Rally Dupps. Their inspiration for the line was during their travels to Indonesia. Surrounded by stunning beauty, they created their own line of batiks inspired by their love of travel, textiles and design.

The range includes fabrics by the yard, cushions and tableware.

We have their line in our showroom now, so pop by if you too are craving the warmer months and in need of a little inspiration.

The Dupps family

These cushions are really so special.

Imagine your table with these and a jug of sangria!

And now I am day dreaming again.....

Simon Doonan’s article A Capri Affair in the August issue of Travel & Leisure has evoked all of my wonderful memories of Capri. I absolutely love the place! Doonan and designer husband Jonathan Adler, travelled to Capri with fashion designer Trina Turk and her photographer husband Jonathan Skow. Looking at all their beautiful photos, it’s not hard to see how they were all utterly inspiration by everything they saw – the sea, the beach, the Capresi people…

After flipping through the article, I couldn’t help but have (yet another) a look at Pamela Fiori’s gorgeous book In the Spirit of Capri. I have had this book for a long time, but every time I pick it up I am inspired. Capri really is a special place.