Design Wise: Jeffrey Bilhuber

I had the good fortune of meeting the interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber when I photographed his Long Island home for a book I was writing on beach houses of the American East Coast last year. (Coast: Lifestyle Architecture. Images Publishing.) This gracious gentleman would have to be one of the most courteous, most generous and most charming men I have ever met. He may spend his days designing homes for the rich and chic (Anna Wintour and David Bowie among them), and he may have even been invited to Obama’s inauguration (I spotteed the invitation discreetly framed in his downstairs bathroom), but you’d never know it from his demeanour. He is as down-to-earth as an Australian sheep shearer. Only with more manners, of course. And more taste.
His Oyster Bay hideaway, which is more of a grand Great Gatsby mansion than a humble weekender, is testament to his design talents, and one of the most intriguing interiors I’ve ever photographed. Bilhuber is as confident with colour as he is with form and space, and his rooms reflect this. I shot a hall wallpapered in whimsical tangerine and cream, a sitting room dressed in plum and duck-egg blue, and a living room dressed in bold lime, with sofas the colour of summer-ripe apples. The bar and main bedroom, meanwhile, were decorated were in Bloody Mary red, while the kitchen was in black, white and Tiffany blue. Simply extraordinary. For more details, see his new book, The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty (Rizzoli New York, October 2011.)

www.bilhuber.com

Website Love: Designers & Books

With a slick layout by super-cool design firm Pentagram and a roll call of famous names confessing their favourite titles, Designers & Books is one of the sexiest literary websites around. To date, more than 60 designers and architects have listed more than 1000 books. Avedon, Beaton, Beau Brummell and The Architecture of Happiness are all there, naturally, but so is Proust. It’s surprisingly intriguing to see what the likes of Isaac Mizrahi and Norman Foster read… What’s more, you can tailor your own reading list. A great way to update your design library.

www.designersandbooks.com

A Classic Design Duet

As you can see from this blog, I have a passion for black and white. (My partner calls it an obsession but let's not go that far.) I think it stems from working in magazines for 20 years. Being saturated by colour all day and making decisions about mastheads based on minute variations in shades can make a girl long for the simplicity, clarity and minimalist glamour of monochromatics. But it's also because I think black and white represent sophistication at its best, elegance at its most alluring. Think of a black parquetry floor in the grand, white salon of a period Parisian apartment. A Robert Doisneau photo on a white gallery wall. A smartly striped marquee at a country wedding in the Cotswolds. Any of Anouska Hempel's hotels. A great many of Cecil Beaton's design. It's daring and yet quietly understated, refined and yet highly stylized, and always, always impeccably, memorably glamorous. It brings to mind Dorothy Draper and William Haines, the tailored soigné-ness of Ralph Lauren's home collections, the movie-star-inspired sets of old Hollywood. Black and white spaces are the design equivalent of a well-tailored tuxedo with a crisp white dress shirt, or a little black dress with a perfect string of pearls. (Very Grace Kelly.) It reminds us that there can be beauty in simplicity, and grace in understatement.

Here are some of my favourite black-and-white spaces.

The Raleigh Hotel, Miami. One of my all-time favourite places. An architectural ode to the elegance of black and white. Very 'old Hollywood'. Karl Lagerfeld staged a Cruise Collection here recently, sending the models out around the iconic Baroque pool. See? Even Karl knows a good thing when he stumbles upon it in his dark sunglasses.

The Mondrian hotel, Miami. Designed by that crazy, extraordinarily talented enfant terrible of interior design, Marcel Wanders, this place is a little –how can I put it politely? – "out there" (a very fitting phrase for the cheekily camp Miami), but I couldn't help but like it. It was like falling through a rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. Only a very stylish hole. Where the 'Queen' was a well-dressed concierge who calls you "honey". (Notice the white carnations in the receptionist's black vase? They've even elevated the old carnies to art.)

The Maya Ubud, Bali. This bath was so beautiful I have could lived in it. I could have moved my books, iPhone and laptop onto that ottoman and never left.

A private residence on Sydney harbour. A former ballroom, this was converted to an astonishing home by an amazing Russian designer. It's a preview of one of the chapters in my forthcoming book, Design in Black and White II. (Notice the ornate ceiling? Glorious.)

The work of New York design firm Schappacher White. The brilliance of Steve Schappacher and Rhea White is evident in their Shelter Island beach house, which is a poem to monochromes. (Love the rustic garden chairs as dining furniture.) One of the prettiest homes I've ever seen. (More on this enchanting hideaway in a later post.)

Training a New Assistant...

Sometimes my photographic assistant doesn't know when to stop styling the photo and let me take the photo...

City v Country Life

We live in a big old house in the country. We moved here from South Yarra, a part of Melbourne that I'd been living in, on and off, for 10 years. (There were also stints in Europe, but I kept getting homesick and coming home. Australia does that to you.) We moved here to have a garden. And a library. And a house that wasn't frequented by men looking for paid sex, as my South Yarra apartment was after a call girl moved next door. We moved here for the peace. The scenery. And the opportunity to have – luxury of luxuries – a study each. And for the most part we've been very happy. But I have to confess that there are things I miss about my old life. Such a good newsagent that stocks more than the Weekly Times, hunting magazines and porn. I miss a well-stocked bookshop, with architecture and gardening titles. I miss having cute cafes in which to meet friends. (Just one cafe would be great.) I miss Melbourne's atmospheric bars and pubs. The Yarra River running track. Trams. The Tan in autumn. I even miss going to the theatre. Not that we ever went, but I miss it anyway.

I miss the style, pace and cheekiness of the city. I miss its audacity, its spirit and its creativity. Who would have thought that urban life could make a girl so sentimental?

Every now and then I get cabin fever and either drive into town, just to walk around, or look online for a cheap flight. I don't really mind where, as long as it takes us to a place that has noise, people, pollution, and the comforting sounds of car horns at night.

Last year I went to New York. Four times. I stood in Times Square and soaked up the fumes. It reminded me of my old life.

An ode to Melbourne...

Interview Issues

For the past few weeks I've been doing media interviews for a new book that's being published by Pan Macmillan/Plum this week. (Paris: A Guide to the City's Creative Heart.) Now you'd think that a journalist would be au fait with interviews. You'd think that a journalist (especially one who has conducted hundreds of her own), would be professional enough to accept they're an inevitable part of any publicity. But may I just say this: I hate being interviewed. It is truly one of life's most terrifying experiences. I would rather be tortured by a dripping tap than answer questions about writing / love / publishing / life. (Insert deeply personal subject matter here.)

I'll always remember sitting down to interview one of the Finn brothers from the band Crowded House – I think it was Tim, the grumpier one? (I'm ashamed to say that I can't tell them apart). Before the photographer and I even had a chance to set up, he suddenly stood up, flung his hands dramatically in the air and said: "I've had enough of these $(%*(#*%& interviews!" (I promise you, I hadn't asked a single question. Not ONE.) At the time, I found his reaction beyond belief. But now...? Mr Finn, I'm with you all the way.

This is how I feel about interviews...

Rose-Coloured Glasses...

At the beginning of this year, Pantone announced that the Colour of the Year would be pink. Or, more accurately, honeysuckle pink; a bold, dynamic, cheeky hot pink that exuded confidence, spirit and creativity in equal measure. "The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages," explained Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, of the company's choice to venture down the pink path. Pantone was right in its predictions, because engage it did. 2011 saw so much pink (House Beautiful dedicated an entire magazine to it), that by October we were all pretty much pinked out. Indeed, we've been exposed to so much rose that it's unlikely we'll be seeing it again for a little while. So here, in tribute to this luscious colour, are my favourite pink moments. These are some of the sassiest, sexiest, sweetest pinks I've photographed these past two years. Oh pink, we still love you.


A gorgeous pink door, glimpsed in a tiny cobblestoned rue in the Left Bank of Paris. (Isn't this shade unusual? It's more of a Moroccan pink than a Parisian pink.)

My pink suite at the Pantheon Hotel in Paris. About the prettiest hotel room you can get in Paris...

Styling up photos for my book, Paris, published by Pan Macmillan this month. (As you can see, we ran out of pink macarons because everyone kept eating them!)

The exotic splendour of the tea salon inside the Paris Mosque. Reached via an enchanting walled courtyard, this place is one of the city's loveliest secrets. The Arabian Nights-style pink and green walls are so vibrant, you can't help but smile when you take a seat.

Styling up a shoot for the book, The Modern Kitchen Garden, published by Images Publishing this year. I loved the simplicity, charm and quirkiness of this photograph.

A bedroom in a beach house on Tybee Island, off the coast of Savannah. This shows that hot pink can be delicate and elegant as much as it can be dramatic and audacious.

Another pink-tinged beach house on Tybee Island. Owned by designer Jane Coslick, this was one of the most fabulous houses I've ever photographed. (And stayed in.) Notice the cute white shutters? Such a lovely architectural touch to make the most of the sea breezes.

Walking through pink petals in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris (which perfectly matched my pink shoes).

A pink potting shed on the island of Martha's Vineyard. I snapped this as I was riding past on a bike to yet another photo shoot. Who wouldn't love pottering around in a shed this shade?

The Bloomfield Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. One of this city's most delightful boutique hotels, the Bloomfield is beloved by fashion models and photographers. It's easy to see why...

Anna (who happens to be Savannah's most talented florist as well as being beautiful and kind), on her friend Jane Coslick's bike on Tybee Island. The three of us spent a few days together shooting a book on beach houses, and I was so grateful for both their help and their cheeky humour. The best part was riding around the island on bikes all day! (The most intelligent way to see Tybee.) Don't you adore Jane's pink bike? And the drink holder in front? (Very important accessory when you're coming home from the riverside bar.)

The Doll's House, Harbour Island, Bahamas. I had the good fortune of peeking inside this cuter-than-cute place, which is often booked out for fashion shoots. It was so chic in its retro-inspired simplicity that I wanted to stay all day. (You can hire it as a private hideaway.) I'll post more images of it in a future post on Harbour Island, which I'll do over the coming weeks.

Dust Jacket Glamour

One of the quirkiest trends influencing modern design libraries, especially those owned by interior designers (who, as we know, are admirably pedantic about aesthetics) is that of refashioned dust jackets. If your book covers are ugly, unsightly, or just don't coordinate in a way that pleases your refined eye, then you can now cover them – much like the contemporary version of recovering one's classics in handsome leather jackets.

Some people, such as India Hicks, are choosing to cover their vintage Penguins in brown paper, with the titles elegantly scripted down the side. Others are opting for eye-catching paper found in stylish paperies in Paris. (Tip: Using different sheets of black and white paper looks distinctive and chic.) I must confess to redressing all my cookbooks in elegant gold or monochrome jackets (above), although it does make it tricky to identify them when you want to find a specific recipe!

These bright pink covers, below, are an inspired idea from the Hable Construction section of Hickory Chair's High Point showroom. {www.hickorychair.com} It's not for everyone, but for a little girl's room, or even a gardening room, it would be an eye-catching library. If you're judging a book by its cover, these are stunning. {Via mynottinghill.blogspot.com}

Inspiring Libraries

Cicero once said: "To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul." I agree. A library is one of the most inspiring spaces you can create in a home. It offers a place of surprising insights and delightful discoveries; a place where you can retreat into a world of words, images, stories and the fantasy of the human imagination. Modern online libraries (such as this one) may be the reading rooms of the future, but there is still something enchanting and magical about opening the door to an enormous, bookshelf-lined space, especially if it has a a great catalogue of intriguing titles and a lovely chaise to curl up into.

We are fortunate to have three libraries in our house: a library for garden, architecture and design books, another for quirky and classic titles, and a summer library beside the verandah for books that are perfect for taking out into the garden with a deckchair and a cool drink. (I know this might seem a little luxurious, but it's only because we live in a big old house in the country where it is possible to commandeer rooms and turn them into literary retreats when your partner isn't noticing!) If I could, I would make every room a library, including the dining room and even the bathroom. As Cicero famously said: "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need..."

As a tribute to the glorious grandeur of these great old-fashioned spaces, here are some of my all-time favourite libraries.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY The grand dame of them all. New Yorkers have adored this place for decades and the rest of us fell in love with it when Carrie swished up the stairs to marry Mr Big in SATC. (Or not, as it turned out.) It's one of the most beautiful libraries in the world; an extraordinarily elegant space that's filled with magnificent detail (just like its books) but isn't in the least pretentious or intimidating. I often pop in just to gaze in rapture at the ceiling.

THE LIBRARY HOTEL, NEW YORK New York’s Library Hotel is a truly decadent hideaway for Dewey lovers. (Pun intended.) The intellectual inspiration for this innovative place comes from the nearby New York Public Library and the architecture is just as stunning. Each room has its own themed libraries (I love the Architecture Suite), so you can choose your reading pleasures. And when you’re done seducing your other half with volumes of modern design (as I did – although he fell asleep before we reached the Contents Page), then you can retreat upstairs to the bookshelf-lined lounge and rooftop terrace for a late-night coffee and a chance to write your own bestseller.

www.libraryhotel.com

LE FUMOIR, PARIS The French have always considered themselves intellectuals and this dignified restaurant shows it. The sophisticated dining area is lined with elegant bookshelves, giving the space the feel of a gentleman’s library. Unfortunately, you can’t just sit and read. You have to order something. And no, don’t bother the maître d’ with your literary queries.

www.lefumoir.com

THE LANDING HOTEL, HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS This poised, coolly glamorous getaway is the kind of colonial outpost we all dream of. Wraparound verandahs. Four-poster beds. All-white rooms with swirling ceiling fans. And a bar frequented by Mick Jagger and half of Hollywood. There’s also an atmospheric library, filled with biographies, vintage classics and travel titles. Grab some Somerset Maugham and order another G&T. The perfect place to lose yourself for a week.

www.harbourislandlanding.com

LA CHAMPS ELYSEES HOTEL, PARIS The new Martin Margiela-designed ‘couture suites’ of the Champs Elysées hotel in Paris include a fabulous 'Curiosity Case Suite' (which is all black and features a cabinet of curiosities) and a 'White Cover Suite', which has the haunting beauty of an empty chateau. But perhaps the most alluring suite is the 'Gilded Lounge Suite', which is lined with walls of books and has a bathroom decorated in magazine spines. Very Martin Margiela.

www.lamaisonchampselysees.

PRIVATE LIBRARY, NANTUCKET This serenely simple library was designed by architect –and book lover – Hugh Newell Jacobsen for a private carriage house in Nantucket. The entire house is white, right down to the minimalist staircase, which creates a gallery-like space for the books within. The minimalist, all-white backdrop means that the only colour in the entire building is the bright spines of all the books. Truly lovely.