Luxe & Lucid

Seven

January 11 marked the seven year anniversary of  Huntley & Co. Interior Design.  Amazing how time flies!  In honor of my biz’s birthday, I’m sharing seven sets of seven favorites.  I typically champion quality over quantity, but it’s nice to be surrounded by inspiration – from design to television to words of wisdom – in abundance these days.  Here’s to seven years of success, a fantastic 2013 and a life filled with beauty, humor and a healthy dose of fun.

 

 

7 YEARS OF HUNTLEY & CO.

cM

 

   

 

 

   

 

7 ARTISTS

I am OBSESSED with the work of the artists below.  Need me a millionaire (or maybe billionaire) boyfriend.

 

  

   

     

 

 

 

7 ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS

 

A spectacular collection of architecture is featured in February’s issue of AD. 

Four of the structures are included below along with three photos from my own travels.

 

      

 

Perot Museum_Dallas  –  Harpa Concert Hall_Reykjavik

 

  

 

The Shard_London  –  Gardens by the Bay_Singapore

  

     

 

New York Public Library_NYC  –  Rolex Learning Center_Lausanne, Switzerland  –  steps of Siena

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 BOOKS

 

Life, Keith Richards

A surprisingly poignant memoir from the ultimate rock star.

  

 

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

The best plot twist since The Sixth Sense.

 

  

Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides

A story spanning 3 generations of Greek-Americans and featuring a young, hermaphroditic protagonist named Calliope. 

 An epic, unorthodox Pulitzer Prize winner.

 

  

Religion for Atheists, Alain de Botton

For the open-minded, curious individual who seeks to understand all sides of an argument.

 

  

The Black Spider, Jeremias Gotthelf

A 19th century novella about a small German town infested with spiders after one of the villagers makes a pact with the devil.

 A good old-fashioned religious allegory written to inspire fear.

 

  

The World of Muriel Brandolini

I had to include one design book. Brandolini's work is completely original and worth a study.

 

  

Blood, Bones & Butter, Gabrielle Hamilton

This was just recommended to me. I can't wait to sink my teeth into it, so to speak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 SHOWS

 

I’m not one of those people who claims she never watches TV.

With provocative storylines, million dollar sets and brilliant characters, you’re missing out if you’re not tuning in.

 

 

 

Downton Abbey

Delicious and addictive whether you’re an aesthete or not.

 

 

  

 

Top Chef

The tenth season is as mouth-watering as ever and has been featuring some serious girl power.

 

 

 

Mad Men

Like any dashing, egocentric, womanizing man worth his salt, Don Draper still has us hooked.

 

 

 

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Characters so wrong, you can't help but champion their insanity.

 

 

 

Justified

For those of us who felt robbed when Deadwood ended.

 

 

 

Walking Dead

A smart, well-crafted show about zombies. Who would have thunk it?

 

 

 

Following

A serial killer show starring Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy. I'm sold. Premieres January 21.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 PEARLS OF WISDOM

 

“You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.”

 

 

 

“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.”

- Gore Vidal

 

 

“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.”

- Estee Lauder

 

 

 

“The best love is the one that makes you a better person without changing you into someone other than yourself."

 

 

 

"It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.”

- Ann Landers

 

  

“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

- Bill Cosby

 

 

“Don’t try to explain yourself to stupid people. You’re not the Jackass Whisperer.”

 

 

 

 

7 YEARS OF NINA

My other baby is seven too!

  

  

  

       

  

   

 

 

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tricia xo

Scents & Sensibility

One of the best things about spring and early summer is the smells. 

Honeysuckle, lavender, gardenia ... mmm.  Besides encouraging my obsession for flowers,

the scents of the season have kick-started a bit of a love affair with women's fragrances for me. 

In the past, I was always a one-bottle-babe.  I thought of perfume as part of my identity, like skin

tone or eye color.  As in "I'm fair, brown-eyed and I wear L'Air du Temps".  But these days I'm not so

conventional.  Or better yet, not so boring.  A woman has more than one point of view, more than one 

mood.  Mademoiselle cannot live on Chanel No. 5 alone!  Fortunately, there are a bevy of talented

perfumers available to muse our muzzles.  Fresh, floral, earthy or exotic - whatever your essence -

there's a scent to describe your internal allure and intoxicate your senses.  Bottle-up and be amazing.

 

 

 

 

The fabrication of fragrances dates back to ancient Egypt. 

This Etruscan vessel is a perfume vase.  Designers take note.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to my standard Coco by Chanel, I acquired three new fragrances this year. 

Calypso Figue by Christiane Celle, Brigitte by Tocca and Sole 149 by Pucci - a birthday

gift from a girlfriend.  Beyond the scents themselves, I like that I can change them up

and layer them according to my mood and my adventures for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four classics from the first half of the twentieth century that are still popular, still chic.

Chanel No. 5 (1921), Arpège (1927), Acqua di Parma (1930) & Fracas (1948).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m intrigued by the ad for Balenciaga’s new fragrance.  It speaks to a cultivated and

sophisticated aesthetic that appreciates the contrast of textures, eras and styles. 

It’s described as a muted scent of soft violet with a woodsy-musky base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of advertising, how does one sell a smell?  Clearly, it’s all about the power of the

image.  If I wear perfume ABC by company XYZ, I will be beautiful/sexy/desirable, etc.

Below are some memorable ads from recent years and the impressions they left upon me.

 

 

 

 

L’EAU AMBRÉE by Prada

- warm, sensual and modern -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ETERNITY MOMENT by Calvin Klein

- men will fall in love with you -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLOWER BOMB by Viktor & Rolf

- feminine but powerful - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUICY COUTURE PERFUME by Juicy Couture

- for the social deb with a wild side -

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

CB I Hate Perfume is the brainchild of Christopher Brosius.  He creates fragrances based on moments

and experiences.  I’m dying to try In the Library, Russian Caravan Tea and Fire From Heaven.  His

concept “scent is life” is brilliantly simple.  You have to love a guy who studied the arts at Carnegie

Mellon, Columbia and Parsons, drove a taxi in New York, went on to work for Kiehl’s and says things

like “People who smell like everyone else disgust me.”  Cool, irreverent and scary-talented.  Love him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fragrances for the home have become as popular as fragrances for the body.  They’re another

way for us to express who we are and share what inspires us.  I love Antica Farmacista's

products.  I discovered their Vanilla, Bourbon & Mandarin room diffuser a few years ago. 

It’s absolutely delicious and is my home’s secret weapon.  Shhhh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aedes de Venustas is another favorite source of mine (I can’t believe I’m giving away

all my secrets!).  I find amazing fragrances for myself and for friends and family.

 

 

 

 

 

Boule d’Ambre by L’Artisan Perfumer.  Amber crystals encased in a terracotta sphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have the Odalisque candle by Cire Trudon in my bedroom.  Its notes of citrus, wood bark and

orange blossom are sexy and comforting and not overwhelming next to my bed.  The company

was founded in 1643 and developed scents for the Court of Versailles and Napoleon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A simple but amazing gift for that special someone?  Primavera room spray from Santa Maria Novella. 

It is said to capture the scents of a Tuscan garden in spring - cherry blossoms, gardenia and dogwood. 

Heavenly!  Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world and was

established in 1221 by Dominican Fathers.  I would also love to buy their Caprifoglio eau de cologne -

a unisex fragrance with the essence of honeysuckle.  Those monks knew what they were doing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And not exactly old compared to the scents above, but nonetheless “vintage”.

These oldies-but-goodies were favorites in their respective eras.

 

OBSESSION by Calvin Klein

- you’re an elusive and enigmatic muse -

  This commercial looked like the celluloid love child of John Pawson and M.C. Escher.

But I did love the tagline - "Ahhh, the smell of it."

 

 

 

 

ENJOLI by Charles of the Ritz/Revlon

- for the wife/corporate go-getter/sexpot who’s kickin’ ass and takin’ names -

  I loved this ad when I was a little girl.  I know, not surprising ; )

  It’s incredible, isn’t it, that we can wear so much history and inspiration on our skin?!

Fragrance is a magical part of nature ... of life.  Just remember, use it in moderation.

You want to beguile and entice, not overwhelm or offend!

 

Tricia xo

Purple Reign

It's over.

I'm not a guy, I'm not a jock and I haven't lived in Minnesota for twenty years.

But I do have three brothers and a father who are die-hard Vikings fans.  So despite 

the fact that I'm a fashion-loving, bauble-wearing, design-obsessed girlie-girl, I was

truly crushed by Sunday's loss.  In honor of my home team and those who love them,

Luxe & Lucid is featuring all things purple this week.  Who knew football could be so inspiring? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The power of purple brought to life by artist Mark Rothko.

 

 

 

Emma Watson in Teen Vogue - darling.  And check out her ride!

 

 

 

Saipua, a florist in Brooklyn, has the lushest, most incredible arrangements I have ever seen.

 

 

 

I’ve been on a bit of a fragrance kick lately.  YSL’s Parisienne has notes of blackberry, rose and sandalwood.

 

 

 

 

 

Kelly Wearstler’s new book HUE (I have a signed copy!) and photos of her home office.

 

 

 

 

 

I loved Gucci’s 2009 spring/summer ad campaign.

Only girls this gorgeous could rock intense violet eye shadow.

 

 

 

 

I became fascinated by the work of Josef Albers as a fine arts major in college.

The German artist was a color theorist whose “Homage to the Square”

series illustrated the relationship and interaction of adjacent colors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incredible!  A pair of amethyst cufflinks from Kimberly Klosterman.

 

 

 

 

 

Two rooms by Solis Betancourt – my mentors and professional heroes – both featured in Southern Accents.

 

 

 

 

 This aubergine clutch from Anya Hindmarch is insanely chic.

 

 

 

 

 

 Louboutin’s signature red heel gives this ladylike lilac pump a little va va voom.

 

 

 

 

 

 Aerin Lauder’s dining room in Elle Decor showcases the sexy sophistication of purple.

 

 

 

 

Speaking of glamorous, successful, New York women.

Plum Sykes wearing, well, plum … and violet, raspberry, etc.

 

 

 

 

A vignette of lilacs, reds and creams in the Virginia living room of a Huntley & Co. client.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And an ottoman upholstered in an orchid-hued moiré in another client’s Pennsylvania Avenue pad.

 

 

 

One of Reese Witherspoon’s best red carpet moments.

Her deep purple ombré Nina Ricci gown was a stunner.

 

 

 

And because I'm always looking for an excuse to Google Colin Firth ...

Only a man as handsome as this Oscar-contender could rock a lavender ascot and look dashing.

 

 

 

 

- Professional Huntley & Co. photos by Kevin Allen Photography -

Sign Language

I’m a January baby and a proud Capricorn.

I can’t say that I’m an astrology advocate, but I do get a kick out of reading my horoscope this

time of year.  Besides the fact that I often find my cosmic description to be dead-on accurate,

I love the idea of my life and character being written in the stars.  A very anti-Capricorn concept

to say the least which is why this is a once a year indulgence.  Luxe & Lucid is a platform for

celebrating what makes us unique as individuals - whatever the context.  Sign me up!

 

 

 

Famous Capricorns … I’m in pretty good company.

 

 

 

 

This pair of ram’s head bookends from Sjae Alexandre is so good-looking, it almost makes me want to be an Aries.

 

 

 

 

A candle from Soular Therapy’s Astrological Aromatherapy collection.

Cancer’s keynotes are Jasmine and White Rose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astrology has even inspired a company as traditional as Wedgwood to produce a zodiac collection.

All 12 signs including Pisces shown here are available through replacements.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russian Vogue’s take on Aries, Capricorn and Gemini respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver Zodiac Cufflinks by artist Michele Delville.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A mid-century mirrored zodiac clock from Flessas Design in New York.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a large-scale wall sculpture also from Sjae Alexandre in Los Angeles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Asha by ADM’s gold and mother of pearl Sagittarius ring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kris Kristofferson would probably cringe knowing I've included him in a blog about horoscopes.    

How could I resist when he has an album titled Jesus was a Capricorn?   Mr. Kristofferson is one of

my heroes.  And it's a short list.  He is a true renaissance man with, in my opinion, the coolest resumé

of the 20th century: Rhodes Scholar, Oxford graduate, helicopter pilot, Nashville legend, movie star. 

If you don't know anything about this über-brilliant and eternally cool Everyman, it's time to find out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A feature on Capricorn from the blog Love Smacked & Starstruck.  So accurate it’s scary!

Check out what’s in store for your sign in the months to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday to all my fellow January babes! 

 

 

 

Tricia xo