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A Summer River House
A Summer River House Oakley Court, Windsor This Rock Chick’s Summer River House, has an added ambience bonus – Luke Alen-Buckley’s magnificent, sculptural candles – which are an amusement all on their own. The Gothic Mansion House has been rocked by the coolest British designer, Alex Eagle, using her chic fabrics and furniture from her…
Read MoreStork Club
Coffee with Jacques Grange Stork Club, Carvalhal, Portugal Stork Club, the famous nightclub in Manhattan, New York City. Circa 1929 to 1965. A symbol of café society, the wealthy elite, movie stars, showgirls, and aristocrats all mixed in there… Ernest Hemingway famously cashed his $100,000 check for the film rights of ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ at the Stork Club to settle his…
Read MoreA Vida Portuguesa
A Vida Portuguesa São Lourenço do Barrocal, Monsaraz I had to do a lot of creative visualization to get here … and we finally did. Surrounded by ancient holm oaks, olive groves and vineyards, is the chic and monastic São Lourenço do Barrocal Monte*, a 200 year old family estate, in the heart of Alentejo.…
Read MoreThe Magical Kingdom
The Magical Kingdom Deetjen’s, Big Sur We woke up at 5am, with the scent of the early morning wood burning stove, in Grandpa’s room, in the shady part of the Redwood Forest in Big Sur. This is Deetjen’s – an overwhelming fairytale, with so much soul. I had read Marie- Louise Scio ’s, (Hotel IL Pellicano’s…
Read MoreLe Stanzie Dal 1980
Le Stanzie Dal 1980 Salento, Italy Driving through a dirt road that wafts through miles of ancient olive and fig trees, in the heart of Salento, I am fantasizing about living out my ‘chic peasant girl’ lifestyle a la Sophia Loren, circa 1967 in C’era uno Volta. And the delectable slow food experience that awaits…
Read MoreThe Story of Nonchalant Style
The Story of Nonchalant Style 1969, Côte d’Azur Mise en Scène 1969. Côte d’Azur, Sizzling hot. Bohemian Atmosphere, calm surroundings. A swimming pool. Sexual Tension. Jealousy. Hints of a ménages à quatre, and ‘Nonchalant Style’, are all the ingredients of La Piscine, the iconic French film. Where our Club T-shirt, ‘1969 Riviera Souvenir’ plays a…
Read MoreA Club for the Poetic
A Club for the Poetic Somewhere in the world Through Club Modeler’s unraveling journey, I have come to meet so many of you, the creative and inspiring people … in the most unexpected ways that could only be called ‘destiny’. Bit by bit, you will come upon more layers on the Club Modeler platform. Like…
Read MoreThe Vegetable Salon
The Vegetable Salon Guéthary (Basque: Getaria), Labourd Hiding in the tiny, surf chic village of Guéthary, outside Biarritz is the fantastical Vegetable Salon, Yaoya. Seduced by its otherworldliness from the beautiful pages of The World of Interiors, whilst sipping British milky tea back home, in my mother’s guest house… A Basque village, with an Epicerie with…
Read MoreComporta Life
A Comporta Life Quinta Da Comporta, Alentejo Sal restaurante Rocco at Quinta Da Comporta In Aviator Nation Slow life rituals with Pol Roger at Gomes Espumantaria & Jardim Dried Lime & pistachio butter on lemon sorbet Museu do Arroz Nona in Iconic Club Members’ Pink scarf Nona in all Patou Rocco, The Animals…
Read MoreLa Colombe D’Or
La Colombe D’Or Saint Paul De Vence La Colombe D’or ‘s iconic recipe The Art, The simplicity, The hand painted menu, The Crudités, The feel of the place, The poetic memories in every corner, The insouciance in the Provencal sunshine, The mysterious ingredients for the good life. FIN Nona @isabelmarant, @matchesfashion , Rocco…
Read MoreAn Institutional Lunch
An Institutional Lunch Kronenhalle, Zurich Kronenhalle oozes tradition and art from its every classical, mahogany paneled corner. The Chagall Room is where Coco, Yves, Pablo and others alike had long debates, dined and had a jolly good time together. I love doing the same, even if I am in Zurich for only a few hours. Watching…
Read MoreGrange Park Opera
Grange Park Opera Surrey Hills, England Opera and dining with the Duchess in the woods. Attending the Grange Park Opera feels like being one of the selected few invitees at a secret aristocratic British garden party …with the Opera as a bonus. On a grand estate with the glorious 14th Century manor that once belonged to…
Read MoreLes Bains, Paris
Les Bains, Paris Paris, France The Rock’n’roll Bathhouse. “Would Madame like to book a table or buy a perfume or book a room?” I booked the room. During Paris fashion week. And was presented with an Elnette hairspray next to my retro turquoise telephone on my bedside – instead of flowers. And that is how my love…
Read MoreUnder the Beaver Moon
Under the Beaver Moon Los Angeles, California Set your life on Fire. Seek those who fan your flames. Rumi An intimate Mayan evening, by me. Using only wild foraged plants & meadow flowers and local organic farms in Malibu & Los Angeles. Drinks Fire ceremony & intention setting Dinner Late night, Mayan Hot…
Read MorePatmos Life, Greece
Patmos Life Dodecanese Islands, Greece John the Apostle wrote the Book of Revelation here. Patmos is magic, steeped in mystery and ever so chic. And bloody hard to get to which is half the fun. In Chora, humble doors lead to magnificent homes , dining sets are Patmonian antique ceramics, interiors hand-painted in a Venetian…
Read MoreScottish Highlands Memoirs
Scottish Highlands Memoirs The Fife Arms, Cairngorms “Her rocks, her hills, are kindled now. Her nature and thy light combine, And manifold in her art thou, Her loveliness a part of thine.” From: A Girl in Love The only book of poems by Nan Shepherd : In the Cairngorms A spiritual & geographical solo…
Read MoreRendez-vous en Cote d’azur Vintage
Rendez-vous en Cote d’azur Vintage Nice, Cap D’Antibes & Saint Paul de Vence Cote D’azur circa 1960s bewitches me. Also, the era before that, and before that, go all the way back to the 20s when Scott Fitzgerald landed in his villa in Cap D’Antibes. I sit in the Fitzgerald bar at the Hotel Belles Rives, portraits of…
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