Mr Smith, I Presume?

The paper stock is 80 pounds. The photographs are printed at 1200 dpi. The weight is well... not something you'd tuck into your handbag for a commuter read on the train. And the price...? It's the kind of number where, if you need to ask, you may not be able to afford it. (As the millionaires say.) It's Rodney Smith's new book, The End. And it's one of the most coveted books since Grace Coddington's Grace. (Which is now selling for more than $1000 on Amazon, I see.)

For those not familiar with Mr Rodney Smith, his photographs are some of the most creative ever produced in the modern media arena. In fact, I think he is the greatest photographer in the world today. I won't say anymore, as his work speaks for itself. You can see more at his blog – rodneysmith.com/blog – which is a fantastic insight into the mind of a brilliant aesthete. Or you can just buy his book.

I would, but I'm too scared to ask the price.

{All images Rodney Smith}

A Modern Manifesto

I love Jonathon Adler's witty, whimsical, entirely-inappropriate-but-still-so-irresistible manifesto for life, some of which I've included below. Inspired, I have whipped up a little one of my own.


THE JONATHAN ADLER MANIFESTO 

WE BELIEVE that your home should make you happy.
WE BELIEVE that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right. Unless the husband is gay.
WE BELIEVE minimalism is a bummer.
WE BELIEVE tassels are the earrings of the home.
WE BELIEVE in our muses: David Hicks, Alexander Girard, Bonnie Cashin, Hans Coper, Gio Ponti, Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman, Yves Saint Laurent, and Madonna.
WE BELIEVE in the innate chicness of red and brown.
WE BELIEVE in being underdressed and overdressed always.
WE BELIEVE in infantile, happy emblems like butterflies and hearts.
WE BELIEVE in rustic modernism: Big Sur, A-frame beach houses, raw beams, and geodesic dome houses.
WE BELIEVE in Palm Beach style: Chinoiserie, Lilly Pulitzer, The Breakers circa '72.
WE BELIEVE dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants.
WE BELIEVE you should throw out your Blackberry and go out and pick some actual blackberries.
WE BELIEVE colors can't clash.
WE BELIEVE our lamps will make you look younger and thinner.
WE BELIEVE in irreverent luxury.

AND ANOTHER VERSION...

WE BELIEVE everybody should be made to go to Paris. At least once.
WE BELIEVE in the crisp sophistication and timeless elegance of black and white.
WE BELIEVE good manners never go out of style.
WE BELIEVE travel is the best education you'll ever receive.
WE BELIEVE in white verandahs, beautiful views, chic outdoor settings and dirty martinis (preferably all together).
WE BELIEVE that Champagne is the answer to everything.
WE BELIEVE books are life enhancing, and libraries are (almost) better than sex.
WE BELIEVE in our muses: Cecil Beaton, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld, Diana Vreeland, David Hicks, Dorothy Draper, Anouska Hempel, Audrey Hepburn, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. (The last two just for the eye-candy factor.)
WE BELIEVE simple white timber beach houses are the best beach houses of all.
WE BELIEVE your marriage and children should make you happy. And your home should come a close second.

Christmas Reading, Part 2

Some of the books on the Christmas Wish List this year...

Black and White (and a Bit In Between)  Published by Clarkson Potter.  

An American book editor told me this book was inspired by my black and white book, Design in Black and White. I doubt that very much, but I'm still curious to see inside it. It looks beautiful. And if the featured designers are anything to go by (Thomas O’Brien, Mary McDonald, Victoria Hagan and Miles Redd, among others), then it will certainly be worth buying.

Versailles: A Private Invitation Published by Flammarian. Versailles will always be considered one of the most beautiful places in the world, and this book goes behind the ropes to capture the extraordinary details of this extraordinary palace. From Marie Antoinette's boudoir to the exquisite rooms of the Petit Trianon, it's sure to be a pleasure trove of interior perfection.

(Bals) Balls: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century Published by Assouline. From the twilight of the Romanov dynasty through les années folles of Art Deco Paris to the jet-set seventies, this glorious book explores the nine most exceptional private costume parties of the twentieth century. It also features social commentary both by and about the colorful characters—including Truman Capote, Cecil Beaton, and others—who immortalized these extraordinary events.

Made in New York: Handcrafted Works by Master Artisans  Published by Rizzoli. Described as the ultimate sourcebook for objects with real character—whether for renovating the home, re-creating a look from the past, searching for a one-of-a-kind gift, or restoring a beloved antique.

English Country House Interiors Published by Rizzoli. After the overwhelming international success of Downton Abbey, this book will really appeal to many people, including me. There are great Jacobean manor houses, Georgian mansions, and Gothic Revival castles including Wilton, Chatsworth, and Castle Howard. Can't wait.

Edwardian Country Life  Published by Frances Lincoln. H. Avray Tipping was appointed as the Architectural Editor for Country Life, quickly becoming recognized as one of the leading authorities on the history, architecture, furnisings and gardens of English houses. This enthralling account of his life and career incorporates archival documents, floor plans and and stunning photographs of this, one of the most beautiful Edwardian country houses around, and of Edwardian country life in general.

Cabbages and Kings

Blame it on the rapidly approaching Australian summer, the design world's fascination with foliage (witness the number of collections inspired by horticulture this year, such as H&M's S/S 2011 Raw Nostalgia range and Chanel's S/S 2011 collection, which was influenced by the gardens of Last Year at Marienbad), or just our move to the country and my new appreciation of the beauty of a hand-grown vegetable. Whatever the reason for it, I have become completely obsessed with gardens this year.

One vegetable, in particular, has become rather prominent in my cuttings and images. It's the humble cabbage, which really isn't humble at all, but rather magnificent. You only have to look at its lush dark layers  to see how magnificent it is. And I'm not the only one with a fondness for the star of the Brassicaceae family. (NB I prefer the Russian word for cabbage – капуста, or kapusta – which sounds like something a mafia head would threaten his enemies with. "If you don't pay up today, you'll get kapusta tomorrow, y'hear me?") King Louis XIV was also rather partial to a little cabbage leaf (as well as peas and pears), instructing his garden designer, Jean-Baptiste Le Quintinie, to ensure there were plenty of these in the royal potager at Versailles. As well, Lewis Carroll was fond of it, incorporating a now-famous "cabbages and kings" line into his poem, 'The Walrus and the Carpenter'. And John Cleese reportedly loves it so much he ordered 'bouquets' of it instead of flowers from a top London florist.

And then there is the dominance of cabbages in all things culinary. Think of the Cabbage Soup Diet, cabbage rolls, coleslaw, Asian vegetable rolls, saurkraut, and stir-fried cabbages and noodles. Not to mention the fact that it's extremely good for fixing hangovers and painful breasts.

Here, in no particular order, are some of the most inspirational cabbages seen this year.

Chateau Villandry, France. You may not believe me when I tell you that this entire garden in the Loire (below) is crafted from vegetables, and in particular cabbages. Shocked? So were we, when we saw it in person for the first time. It is truly spectacular. Thousands of vegetables, including cabbages, artichokes and Swiss chard, are used as a decorative element, and the plantings change every year according to the colors and foliage desired. It's worth the airfare to France, trust me.

Hennes & Moritz's witty, whimsical S/S 2011 collection, entitled 'Raw Nostalgia'. So pretty. No wonder it sold out quickly.

'Rabbit & Lettuce' cushions, made from handprinted fabric produced by Thornback and Peel. {Photo courtesy Rume.co.uk.} This gorgeous print reminds me of Peter Rabbit running from old Mr McGregor's garden...

A couture cabbage frock. How sensational is this dress? Perhaps not one for the Oscars, as it might start to wilt by the Vanity Fair party (and smelly cabbage isn't a good look when you're chatting to Jack Nicholson), but for a Vogue shoot on gardens, it would look magnificent. Grace Coddington would love it. {Via greenandwhitegarden.blogspot.com}

Cloris Leachman's ad for PETA. Okay, so this is two years old, but it's still gorgeous. Who would have thought a gown made from leafy greens could be so chic?

Cabbage bouquets. How beautiful do these look? Perfect for brides who love gardens or cooking! {Via peach-pearl.blogspot.com.} {Image at the very top of post is via greenweddingshoes.com}

Cabbages & Roses. One of London's loveliest stores, Cabbages & Roses specialises in romantic, English-style frocks, coats, homewares and fabrics. The King's Road store is a little treasure trove of charm and prettiness. But if you can't make it to King's Road, the Jigsaw stores also sell the Cabbages & Roses collections.

And the last word comes from The Independent, as always...

Meeting Miss Tricia (Foley)

It's always lovely when you meet a renowned interior designer and they turn out to be just as beautiful as their rooms. Tricia Foley is one such person. Charming, gracious, wonderfully hospitable and extraordinarily talented, this New York-based interior designer, stylist, author and former magazine editor can put together a space like nobody I know – and then turn around and (just as quickly) whip up a stylish spread of food and drinks to entertain people in it.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Tricia Foley at her Long Island hideaway last year. I spent the day with her, photographing her glorious riverside cottage and garden. Later, we had dinner together at a fabulous little restaurant owned by friends of hers in a village nearby. And as we were chatting, I remembered, with one of those serendipitous flashes, that her book, The Romance of British Colonial Style, had been the first design book I'd ever bought. I loved that book when it was first published, and now here we were together, sharing stories of our photo shoots, and magazine careers, and where we hoped to be in another ten years. It was one of those days, full of laughter, conversation and inspiration, that lingers in your memory for some time afterwards.

I want to share some of my images of Tricia Foley's house, which were featured in a book called Coast: Lifestyle Architecture. It's been featured around the Blogosphere before, but here are some new angles, for those who love its elegant lines and surprising details. Tricia's signature look is, as you can see from these images, derived from using an understated, mostly monochromatic palette. She's not big on colour, preferring to draw her inspiration from the classic, pared-back simplicity of early American colonial and Shaker styles. Black, white and natural tones dominate here, creating serene spaces of calm and sophistication. Vintage is mixed with modern, and high-end pieces with flea-market or hardware finds. The result is a home that has all the elegance of a styled photo shoot, and all the comfort of a much-loved weekender.

www.triciafoley.com

Six Places Not To Miss In Paris

The Design Quartier centred around Place Furstemberg in the 6th (pictured below). Not only is this square one of the most charming in Paris (and the subject of countless tourist photographs), it's also the centre of a great little design neighbourhood. There's three of the best fabric and homewares companies in the world here – Flamant, Pierre Frey and Manuel Canovas – plus a great gardening bookstore on Rue Jacob and Assouline's bookstore on Rue Bonaparte (a company known for great design titles and great interior design). The lovely Delacroix Museum is also here. (Don't miss his studio and garden). And when you need refreshment from design overload you can stop in Ladurée's ornate tea salon and shop for some of their fabulous interior design. And, okay, their macarons.

The northern part of the Marais (pictured below). The main part of the Marais has suffered from over-exposure in the last few years and has lost much of its character. The northern part, however (which is technically the 3rd arrondissement), is still full of charm and loveliness. There's Cafe Charlot on Rue de Bretagne, one of the most atmospheric and liveliest cafes in Paris (Such sexy clientele! What DO they put in the coffee?), the great furniture and vintage stores of Rue Charlot, the gorgeous, whimsically decorated Lacroix-designed Hotel du Petit Moulin, which was created fro an old boulangerie (pictured directly below) and the fabulous taxidermied exhibitions of the Hunting and Nature Museum (Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature), which are more intriguing than you'd think. 

The Musée Carnavalet (pictured below). Perhaps my favourite place in Paris. If you haven't yet been here, put in on The List. It's a museum that chronicles the history of Paris through fascinating architecture models, maps, images and replica interiors. The interior exhibitions are truly fascinating if you're into interior design. And there's an idyllic parterre garden behind it, which is perfect to have your picnic lunch in. Oh – and the museum is also free: what more incentive do you need?

Au Petit Fer a Cheval While you're idling around the Marais, drop by here for a coffee and a peek at Parisians at play. It's loved by locals, and you couldn't get a more quintessential Parisian cafe. The absinthe green colour is a classic Parisian green. You can't help but love it.

The new design department of Le Bon Marché department store (pictured below). You may come here for the architecture, the incredible interior design, the extraordinary ceiling detail or just the sublime fashion and style. But there's one thing you shouldn't miss in this, the world's first department store, and that's the new La Maison d'Edition department. Inspired by books and publishing, this sleek new section features the best new architecture and design titles, plus gorgeous journals, pens and stationery, great furniture and accessories, and lots of lovely things to furnish your Parisian-style salon with.

Catherine B (pictured below). If you want discount Chanel, Hermés and other classic French labels, don't go to Didier Ludot, who is so expensive that only Hollywood actresses and Arabian royalty can afford him. Go to Catherine B instead. Loved by Left Bank stylistas, Catherine B is a beautiful little boutique near the St Sulpice cathedral that stocks top-quality Chanel, Hermés and other luxury labels for very little. Last time I was here I found an almost-new black Chanel suit for so cheap, I was tempted to buy it! (I will go back and buy another one day.) The owner is a delight to deal with, and the stock is superb.

{More Paris posts in coming weeks}

Picture Perfect

Hanging pictures isn't easy. Sure, you can tack a few nails in a wall and toss on some frames. But if you're not careful, the display can look a little, well... 'dishevelled', as my grandmother would say. I'm not the most adroit picture placer, but having learned a tip or two from some of the best interior designers in the world, I'm now on a vertical learning curve. So to speak. Here, in a little design lesson to kick off the design week, is a selection of the tricks I've picked up from those who are far more adept at this than me.

Lesson No 1: Go Up, Not Across

Don't feel compelled to always position your frames in a 'square' grouping, or even along a horizontal line. A vertical placement of identical frames can look dramatic, especially above a chair. We positioned these black-and-white prints in a strong vertical line because it complemented the strong lines of the tongue-and-groove walls.

Lesson No 2: Find Frames That Complement The Wall

If you have a strong colour on your walls, consider grouping your images in an equally dramatic way. We could have gone with mahogany frames here, or all-white ones, but the black and white mix seemed to be more sophisticated – and surprising. This was a difficult wall to decorate because the old 1970's tongue-and-groove was on a diagonal and rather than rip it all out we just painted it in Kate Spade green, which reflected the garden outside. These garden prints and photographs brought it all together. 

Lesson No 4: Frame Whatever Pleases You

Don't think you have to hang priceless art work, or expensive paintings and prints. We have black-and-white photographs everywhere in our home, so I wanted to veer away from that 'gallery' look in the bedroom and library. Instead, I found four of my favourite magazine covers from Vogue, Vogue Living and Vanity Fair and threw them in some cheap black Ikea frames to dress up the bedroom. You could do an entire wall in magazine covers. Imagine them on an all-black wall in a study or library? How beautiful would that look? And for the corner of the library, we used a cheap tourist map of Midtown Manhattan (which was surprisingly well-designed) and the front of an exhibition catalogue from the International Centre of Photography in New York. 

Lesson No 5: Group similar images close together. We didn't leave much of a gap between each of these frames because I wanted the whole grouping to look very dramatic. The black frames blend into the glossy black wall, leaving only the white mounts and photographs as contrast.

{NB Will happily accept criticism on these lessons, so just email the comments through!}