tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63839079262806890062024-03-20T00:56:35.231-07:00A Library of DesignA Library of DesignJanelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.comBlogger398125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-41364385300783648092019-08-22T19:48:00.003-07:002019-08-22T19:48:47.290-07:00Beautiful Books for Spring <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BEAUTIFUL BOOKS</span></b></div>
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This time of year is the height of book season, as publishers release their pick titles for Christmas. Here are a few beautiful ones to bookmark for your Wish List.</div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-2070120999868143042019-08-15T21:28:00.002-07:002019-08-15T21:32:24.335-07:00BOOK TOUR -- 'STORIES OF GARDENS & GLAMOUR' WITH LINDA HOLDEN (AND ME)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">STORIES OF GARDENS AND GLAMOUR</span></b></div>
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<b>GARDENS, BIOGRAPHIES, AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES STORIES OF GREAT ESTATES</b></div>
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<b>A BOOK TOUR WITH LINDA HOLDEN AND JANELLE McCULLOCH</b></div>
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Thousands of book and garden lovers bought Linda Holden's beautiful book <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Bunny-Mellon-Linda-Holden/dp/0865653518" target="_blank">THE GARDENS OF BUNNY MELLON</a> (Vendome),</b> which was a runaway bestseller last year. Recently, a friend and I had the privilege of visiting Mrs Mellon's own private garden and estate in Virginia, 'Oak Spring', and were even more privileged to meet Linda and be shown around by head gardener Randy Embrey. Since then, I've read and re-read this gorgeous book and have been enthralled at the gardens Mrs Mellon designed for <b>Hubert de Givenchy, Jackie Kennedy</b> and many others. Well, now it's my absolute pleasure to announce that, after many months of planning, Linda is coming to Australia for a book tour.<br />
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If you would like to hear behind-the-scenes stories of <b>Bunny Mellon and the garden at Oak Spring</b>, and see photographs of <b>Mrs Mellon's gardens for Hubert de Givenchy, the White House, the Kennedys, the potager at Versailles</b>, and many other places, please mark your diaries for one of the dates on her Australian book tour, <b><u>October 17 - 22.</u> </b><br />
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It's such a thrill to host Linda, and I can promise her stories are worth listening to! As well, I thought it would be nice to 'bookend' the event with some of the beautiful gardens and homes I've had the privilege of shooting for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Style-Private-Hideaways-Design/dp/0847861899/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Gardens+of+Style&qid=1565926205&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><b>GARDENS OF STYLE: PRIVATE HIDEAWAYS OF THE DESIGN WORLD</b></a><b> (Rizzoli),</b> so I will chat about <b>Estee and Aerin Lauder's garden in the Hamptons, Carolyne Roehm's estate in Connecticut, David Hicks's famous garden in Oxfordshire, Bunny Williams's beautiful country house in Connecticut, Ben Pentreath's hideaway in Dorset, Christian Dior's flower garden in Normandy and Celerie Kemble’s amazing botanical-themed hideaway in the Dominican Republic</b>, among others.<br />
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We will also be co-hosting a one-day <b><u>Writing and Publishing Workshop on Sunday October 20th </u></b>(details TBC), for all those who want to write or publish their own design or garden book, or memoir / biography, or want to know how to approach a publisher -- whether in London, New York or Australia. <b>(NOTE: It will be in Melbourne, but there may be another workshop in Sydney. ) </b><br />
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Please email me to RSVP or to be keep up-to-date with details of either the writing workshop or the talks -- <b>janelle.mcculloch@bigpond.com</b><br />
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We hope to see you at one of these events! Both Linda and I are looking forward to meeting you all, and perhaps helping some of you write or publish your own book, too! Books will be for sale, including Linda's book, and my new book <b>The Gardener's Travel Companion to England</b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">STORIES OF GARDENS AND GLAMOUR</span></b></div>
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<b>An insight into some of the most beautiful gardens in the world </b></div>
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<b>Thursday October 17th 10am – 12.30pm</b></div>
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<b>CENTENNIAL VINEYARD, SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS, NSW</b></div>
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<b>(ORGANISED BY THE BOOKSHOP BOWRAL, BOWRAL, NSW)</b></div>
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Hosted by The Bookshop Bowral but held at the beautiful Centennial Vineyard, this morning tea, talk and slideshow will feature some of the most extraordinary private gardens in the world, including those of Mrs Rachel ‘Bunny’ Lambert Mellon, the Kennedys’ private gardens, Hubert de Givenchy’s Paris garden, the Potager du Roi at Versailles, the Normandy garden of Christian Dior, the Provence garden of Hermes’ creative director Nicole de Vésian, the Oxfordshire garden of David Hicks, the Hamptons garden of Estée Lauder, the Connecticut estates of Bunny Williams and Carolyne Roehm, and several more. Books will be for sale, with a book signing after the talks. </div>
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<i>(Further details will be posted nearer to date)</i></div>
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<b>RSVP: Bowral Bookstore. </b></div>
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<b>Email: books@thebookshopbowral.com.au. Phone: (02) 4862 1634. </b></div>
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<b>Friday October 18th (Time TBC)</b></div>
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<b>PIGOTT’S, WOOLLAHRA, SYDNEY</b></div>
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Talk and book signing by Linda Jane Holden and Janelle McCulloch about the magnificent gardens they've visited and written about, and the book launch of Janelle McCulloch’s new book <i>The Gardener’s Travel Companion to England</i>. Books for sale. (Details TBC)</div>
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<i>(Further details will be posted nearer to date)</i></div>
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<b>RSVP: Pigott’s. Email: sales@pigotts.com.au </b></div>
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<b>Or Janelle.mcculloch@bigpond.com</b></div>
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<b>Saturday October 19th 11am – 1pm </b></div>
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<b>MORNINGTON LIBRARY, MORNINGTON</b></div>
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Talk and slideshow by bestselling American author Linda Jane Holden (The Gardens of Bunny Mellon, Vendome) and Janelle McCulloch (Gardens of Style, Rizzoli), plus book sales and book signings. </div>
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<i>(Further details will be posted nearer to date)</i></div>
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<b>RSVP: Mornington Library (details TBC) </b></div>
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<b>Or through Eventbrite – <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/gardens-of-style-with-linda-holden-and-janelle-mcculloch-mornington-library-tickets-67157510923" target="_blank">LINK</a></b></div>
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<b>Sunday October 20th (Time TBC)</b></div>
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<b>WRITING AND PUBLISHING WORKSHOP</b></div>
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Writing workshop held by Linda Jane Holden and Janelle McCulloch</div>
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Details and venue TBC <i>(Further details will be posted nearer to date)</i></div>
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CONTACT: Janelle.mcculloch@bigpond.com Phone: 0422 356 350</div>
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<b>Monday October 21st 6.30pm – 8pm</b></div>
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<b>READINGS BOOKSTORE, HAWTHORN </b></div>
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Talk and slideshow by Linda Jane Holden and Janelle McCulloch on the gardens they’ve had the privilege of writing about and visiting.</div>
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<b>RSVP: Readings Hawthorn </b></div>
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<i>(Further details will be on Readings’ website and here nearer to date) </i></div>
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<b>Or email janelle.mcculloch@bigpond.com</b></div>
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<b>Tuesday October 22nd 6pm – 8pm</b></div>
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<b>ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, MELBOURNE </b></div>
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Talk and slideshow for the ‘Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens’.</div>
(if you’re not a member, this is a good opportunity to join this wonderful organization). <br />
Welcome drinks and a light supper from 6pm – 6.30pm, followed by talk. Book sales and signings after. <br />
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<i>(Further details will be posted nearer to date)</i></div>
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<b>RSVP: Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens – jill.scown@frbgmelb.org.au P: 03 9650 6398</b></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-80591445573572832082019-07-09T23:55:00.001-07:002019-07-10T06:11:07.168-07:00Gardens, Books, Beachhouses, and Other Lovely Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Social media is a funny thing. Sometimes it can be nasty, or sometimes it can be just plain crazy! Other times, it can be surprisingly kind. This week, the internationally renowned author and entrepreneur India Hicks suddenly shuttered her business, to the shock of the thousands of people who follow or work with her. But instead of jamming her social media with unwanted vitriol, as is often the case, everyone applauded her effort, energy and inspiration over the years. <i>Kindness</i> flooded the comments.<br />
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It was, I think, a quiet acknowledgement that most of us prefer to seek out the <i>niceness </i>of life rather than subscribing to the negativity that social media breeds. I tell you this small story because I've noticed lately that many people are shying away from or even shutting off from social media. I am one. But I have missed the stories, the ideas, the inspiration, the social interaction, the unexpected whimsy and beauty. Many of us in my social circle have gone <i>full circle </i>and returned to old-fashioned email to ping-pong interesting snippets to each other. I even send cards and parcels -- with stamps!<br />
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I don't know what the future holds for media, and as a former journalist and magazine editor I'm intrigued to see how we will receive our information once the major players such as Instagram have had their day. Until then, I thought I'd do a little blog post. Because there are lots of lovely things bouncing around – from books to dinnerware, and even a wonderfully dilapidated old beach house (ours), that's breathing new life into our little family, after we decided to buy it on a whim. I hope these bring you joy on this windy Wednesday. And I hope that, wherever you are, beauty and kindness come your way.<br />
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<i>(Image above is my favourite spread from a new book outlined below.)</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE GARDENER'S TRAVEL COMPANION TO ENGLAND</span><br />A NEW BOOK ABOUT BEAUTIFUL BOTANICAL DESTINATIONS</b></div>
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This new little botanical guide to England (<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardeners-Travel-Companion-England-where/dp/1864707577" target="_blank">LINK</a>) has been my baby for the past year. (As well as the old beach house that we're slowly restoring.) As with every book I'm involved with, I'm thrilled and deeply grateful that I was able to be part of it. It's a truly beautiful guide, thanks to the efforts of the entire team at Images Publishing. </div>
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I really hope you all like it. It covers everything from <b>glorious under-the-radar gardens and private estates throughout England, to garden museums and festivals, garden hotels, restaurants and pubs with gardens, and many other unusual botanical destinations</b>. There's also an index of <b>garden courses,</b> from photography classes to garden embroidery workshops. </div>
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My favourite section is on hotels – there are so many gorgeous new hotels with kitchen gardens and cutting gardens and restored parterres. If only I could have stayed at them all.</div>
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I really hope you enjoy reading it. (I've already ordered a copy for my mother for Christmas.) It's published in early September by Images Publishing, my long-time publisher. <b>For more details, previews and to buy an advance copy in the pre-sales, please go to any of the websites below. </b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardeners-Travel-Companion-England-where/dp/1864707577" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/the-gardeners-travel-companion-to-england-what-to-see-and-where-to-sta/janelle-mcculloch/hardback/9781864707571.html" target="_blank">WH SMITH</a><br /><a href="https://www.readings.com.au/products/26504780/the-gardeners-travel-companion-to-england-what-to-see-and-where-to-stay" target="_blank">READINGS</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/gardener-s-travel-companion-to-england-janelle-mcculloch/prod9781864707571.html" target="_blank">BOOKTOPIA</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEAR AND FAR </span><br />A NEW DESIGN MONOGRAPH FROM LISA FINE</b></div>
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Many people know of textile designer Lisa Fine. Her designs are as sublime as her homes in Paris and Manhattan. <i>(Her beautiful fabrics are available through Nicola Lawrence -- <a href="http://www.nicolalawrence.com.au/" target="_blank">link</a>.) </i>So Lisa's first book has been eagerly awaited by many of us. Titled <b>NEAR AND FAR (</b>a fabulous title!), Lisa chronicles the design of her homes in Dallas, New York, and Paris, and then takes us along as she visits the places and people that have been her greatest sources of inspiration. Among her favored treasures are the<b> Mughal palaces and gardens of India</b>, <b>the 18th-century home of Carl Linnaeus in Sweden, the whitewashed retreat of interior designer John Stefanidis on Patmos, the idyllic country house and garden of London-based designer Penny Morrison, and a storied house in the Tangier Casbah belonging to collectors Jamie Creel and Marco Scarani. </b></div>
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Evocatively photographed by Miguel Flores-Vianna, it's a treasure trove of design ideas. I've already put it on my Wish List for Christmas. </div>
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<b>Published September 2019. By Vendome.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A TABLE IN VENICE</span></b></div>
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<b>A BOOK FOR ALL THE SENSES</b></div>
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If there are two places that have been prominent in travel media this year, it's <b>Venice and Capri. </b>(Thanks to Zimmerman for the latter.) If you adore the former, look for Skye McAlpine's stunning book <b>A TABLE IN VENICE</b>. Then, if you can, try and find photos of her new Venetian apartment. It's as lovely as her photography. (The above pix are from Ben Pentreath's social media; he was lucky enough to dine with her in this spectacular space.) </div>
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<b><i>A Table in Venice</i></b> is now out in bookstores. I hope Skye begins working on a second book soon. And that her new apartment is in it.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ANNA WEATHERLEY</span></b></div>
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<b>BEAUTIFUL BOTANICAL DINNERWARE</b></div>
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Have you seen Anna Weatherley's delicious dinnerware? It features some of the prettiest plates around. Anna is based in Washington DC but she is so fond of Australia that she has waived shipping here. </div>
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<b>Look for her gorgeous designs on her website -- <a href="http://annaweatherley.com/" target="_blank">link here</a>.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A GARDEN IDYLL IN LONDON</span></b></div>
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<b>ROSE UNIACKE'S EXTRAORDINARY LONDON HOME</b></div>
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Do you follow Nowness' 'In Residence' videos? If not, search them out -- they feature incredible homes of celebrated architects, designers and artists. My friends and I are always referring each other to their newest videos. </div>
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My favourite is <b>Rose Uniacke's extraordinary London home –</b> quite possibly one of the most glamorous interiors in the English capital. She calls it "a monastery meets Venetian palazzo". It's difficult to believe it's in the middle of <i>London. </i>The best part? Her hidden courtyard garden, which has a secret door built into the brickwork. </div>
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<b>The link to Rose's residence is <a href="https://www.nowness.com/series/in-residence/rose-uniacke" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </b></div>
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(The music is as mesmerising as the videography.)<br />
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<b><b><span style="font-size: large;">BOTANICAL EMBROIDERY</span></b></b></div>
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<b>THE NEXT BIG SEWING TREND? </b></div>
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<i>Architectural Digest </i>has recently published an article asking if botanical embroidery is the next big thing in sewing circles? Many people I know, including my sister-in-law, have been practising this for years, but they tend to be quiet achievers, so hopefully AD's story will push this gorgeous art form to the fore.</div>
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AD's story focused on <b>Olga Prinku</b>, who takes real flowers and weaves them into ornate embroidery filled with petals and other things foraged from gardens and forests. What she and all these other botanical embroiderers do is simply magical. And to think that all it takes is tulle and a few dried flowers...</div>
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<b>Find out more on Olga's instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/olgaprinku/" target="_blank">HERE</a> or Architectural Digest <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-trend-botanical-embroidery" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MAE IN MAUVE</span></b></div>
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<b>AN UNUSUAL BEIRUT ABODE</b></div>
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Recently I stumbled across a house in <b>Architectural Digest</b> that was unlike anything I'd seen for years. It was the grand Beirut home of <b>Mae Daouk</b>, and it was notable for the colour mauve -- or lilac, as it's being marketed as the moment. </div>
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Purple has never been a big colour in design -- I think it's a hue that grows on people as they get older, particularly with gardeners who see it in salvias and other flowers. But this year, it's making a glamorous comeback. Lilac -- especially that luminous shade of silvery lilac you see in evening skies -- is everywhere I look at the moment. So much so, that we have decided to do our new kitchen in our new (old) beach house in lilac. But I love Mae's place -- anyone who pairs purple with Schiaparelli pink deserves a gold medal.</div>
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<b>The link to Mae's home in Architectural Digest is <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/ad-access-beirut-trip" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXvzvcrD35IVx_HWMBCnf0OxOnD08MYieqmh5SbiAT8dkWdGkKquKhYaBifi9p1wMzNKsvsiEOlPDn9E5V5x1JI61vtCtxKmGYbuRdvK0bDGdY78Z0w_DtlUjpBs02Eo21HMniV74Zic/s1600/Zimmerman_July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1381" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXvzvcrD35IVx_HWMBCnf0OxOnD08MYieqmh5SbiAT8dkWdGkKquKhYaBifi9p1wMzNKsvsiEOlPDn9E5V5x1JI61vtCtxKmGYbuRdvK0bDGdY78Z0w_DtlUjpBs02Eo21HMniV74Zic/s640/Zimmerman_July.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ZIMMERMAN'S NEW COLLECTION</span></b></div>
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<b>(FLORALS AND FRILLS)</b></div>
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Someone who is utterly <i>mad </i>about mauve is Zimmerman, the Australian fashion label famous for its femininity and frills. If you caught all the fuss about Zimmerman's new store on Capri last week, you'll know this label puts on seriously glamorous soirees. But its launch parties are nothing compared to its summer dresses. These are a few I snapped in-store last week. If you can't afford the eye-watering price tags, there are two Outlet stores, and both are fantastic for finding sophisticated Zimmerman frocks for bargain prices.</div>
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<a href="http://www.zimmermannwear.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.zimmermannwear.com</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm5lnRlSm_H_Y2RLBto6E5aGk6TzTQJ5HNK-i8I-HONYuCqJ-o3m70hnm8FLOg74vULxCChG155c3P4AK08r7C-6CaOP0vN4wx-T404aUuvfdgxB4W9nGWMszgLjzSPMmHzHHFbieS8g/s1600/MinHogg_Studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="685" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm5lnRlSm_H_Y2RLBto6E5aGk6TzTQJ5HNK-i8I-HONYuCqJ-o3m70hnm8FLOg74vULxCChG155c3P4AK08r7C-6CaOP0vN4wx-T404aUuvfdgxB4W9nGWMszgLjzSPMmHzHHFbieS8g/s640/MinHogg_Studio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE LOSS OF MIN HOGG</span></b></div>
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<b>VALE A GREAT LADY</b></div>
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Many of us were devastated to read the news of the death of legendary magazine editor Min Hogg last week. During her editorship of <b><i>The World of Interiors,</i> </b>Min was responsible for publishing some of the most brilliant magazine stories in the design world. Her own homes, above, were just as stylish. She will be missed.</div>
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<b>The <i>New York Times' </i>wonderful obituary about Min is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/obituaries/min-hogg-dead.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0xzPhxUn26G9D1wl-qOLS0ddLbfKVknMaApgfQOdeB8pJs3o8zdPTnbHXSVZEaDsLkunFJia4wz687dwbph4Es88a84elICjjkGoPKnxYc7M3x6zR6zBQNPOB_ZIcR7k_pPQI2Dma9U/s1600/ArchivingDior2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="883" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0xzPhxUn26G9D1wl-qOLS0ddLbfKVknMaApgfQOdeB8pJs3o8zdPTnbHXSVZEaDsLkunFJia4wz687dwbph4Es88a84elICjjkGoPKnxYc7M3x6zR6zBQNPOB_ZIcR7k_pPQI2Dma9U/s640/ArchivingDior2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">DIOR EXTRAORDINARIE </span></b></div>
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<b>HOW DIOR ARCHIVES A DRESS</b></div>
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If you're one of the fortunate ones who saw the Dior exhibition at the V&A in London this year, then you'll adore this video from the<i> New York Times. </i>It shows the attention to detail that goes into archiving Dior's precious dresses. Even Monsieur Dior would have been happy with this level of care, I think.<br />
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<b><b><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/t-magazine/100000005434448/archiving-a-dior-dress.html?playlistId=100000003480810&region=video-grid&version=video-grid-thumbnail&contentCollection=&contentPlacement=18&module=recent-videos&action=click&pgType=Multimedia&eventName=video-grid-click" target="_blank">LINK HERE</a></b></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ9woLcWHL0OeX66Qz-gjwl_RC0IZiYgk7bAuul5AIi-AfdQNfzMH2EfQ9xVewdZwJA_1EjCVdvq6r_O9A-U-yg8aHf5SkG-zZD80NwJaKo-PJtUGm3X28thYdlRflk5z1zsxFWoVvhU/s1600/JanelleMcCulloch_beachhouse_blues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ9woLcWHL0OeX66Qz-gjwl_RC0IZiYgk7bAuul5AIi-AfdQNfzMH2EfQ9xVewdZwJA_1EjCVdvq6r_O9A-U-yg8aHf5SkG-zZD80NwJaKo-PJtUGm3X28thYdlRflk5z1zsxFWoVvhU/s640/JanelleMcCulloch_beachhouse_blues.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>FINALLY...<br />OUR NEW LIFE -- IN A VERY OLD BEACH HOUSE</b></span></div>
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I've been quiet on social media for a few months. There are many reasons. A few lingering health issues. A book deadline. Mentoring my wonderful authors. (One may already have a book deal.) And writing a new book. But perhaps the biggest reason for our quiet life is an old beach house we bought, in a spur-of-the-moment decision, four days before Christmas. </div>
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We didn't know we wanted to live by the beach until we starting renting an interim townhouse, waiting for our city place to be finished. Then we fell in love -- with a house by the sea. <br />
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We saw a slightly run-down old house on our nightly dog walk, made an offer, and the rest is renovation history. Six months of dust, hammers, drills, plans, revised plans, tradespeople (actually we're doing most of the work, due to the miniscule budget), visits from friends and from our wonderful architect Virginia Blue, and -- best of all -- blissful evening strolls along one of the most beautiful esplanades in the world. </div>
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Not a day goes by that we don't say thanks for our new life. Our new life in a lovely old house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv0x8MojJ8nSU_3D6ZD1Sjb5VHdFVxNMfO5B7QRHQaZo7PHm0-cxv1GYtlXI_pvU_Gd1iTt_rVd-Nr-3Eu28NCud2fpIpJtuuyw53fOMKgqNum-LXdlupIU9-gugWT4Gp4y3mh2P4sb4/s1600/Kitchen_ColourScheme_Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv0x8MojJ8nSU_3D6ZD1Sjb5VHdFVxNMfO5B7QRHQaZo7PHm0-cxv1GYtlXI_pvU_Gd1iTt_rVd-Nr-3Eu28NCud2fpIpJtuuyw53fOMKgqNum-LXdlupIU9-gugWT4Gp4y3mh2P4sb4/s640/Kitchen_ColourScheme_Final.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Restoring a house is a long process. Our books are still everywhere, the tables are still cluttered with things that have no home (there is little storage here), the paint colours, fixtures and fittings are still being determined (lilac and cornflower blue are the forerunners, inspired by the cover of the new book), and the garden is a disaster!<br />
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But oh, how we love it.</div>
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I hope to post some pix on Instagram soon. When things look a little more presentable. In the meantime, if you ever want to say hello, just email me (the old-fashioned way!) or dm on Instagram -- I'll always try and reply.</div>
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Until next time, wishing you all a wonderful week, from our little family at the beach.</div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-80828891412194194062018-08-24T13:44:00.003-07:002018-08-24T13:52:17.263-07:00Reclaiming The Beauty of Life<div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG0ptvKWOr7rdug4nomL4DHTV4Z_gQhRIlaHCtZZoixdosoYY8BTMyYc6_kYbpkKs5qjnUiPAuQbPaTgHEjRGJPkqm4rZGJ3pk09AA2d6scPHXyqbZgKF9P2kdThrI3dTeTgvDdNxfN0/s1600/ZimmermanCorsageCollection3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1600" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG0ptvKWOr7rdug4nomL4DHTV4Z_gQhRIlaHCtZZoixdosoYY8BTMyYc6_kYbpkKs5qjnUiPAuQbPaTgHEjRGJPkqm4rZGJ3pk09AA2d6scPHXyqbZgKF9P2kdThrI3dTeTgvDdNxfN0/s640/ZimmermanCorsageCollection3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WHY WE NEED BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN OUR LIFE</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Recently I watched the film <b><i>The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society</i>.</b> I know the title is long (one reviewer said it made him "lose the will to live"), but the story is surprising – and deeply moving. The kind of story I haven't seen for years. I read the novel a decade ago, and wept. I saw the film, and wept some more. Then I bought the DVD. (It's also on Netflix.) It reminded me of the power of storytelling. And boy, have we forgotten that in this age of pithy, witty one-line tweets and abbreviated conversations.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">It was a film of layers: the war; the importance of books; the importance of empathy; the importance of friendships. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">And then there was the elegance of the </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">cinematography. Even</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> the garden scenes and Isola's flower-filled home had the light and painterly quality of a painting.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">It reminded me of what a new friend said when she wrote to me recently. "Where has the fabulousness of life gone? Where is the magic?" Well, it was there, in Isola's greenhouse, in a lovely film with a title so long it would barely fit into a modern-day tweet. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I hope you get the chance to see </span></span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. </span>In the meantime, here are a few more beautiful things, to help you cope with this expeditious life we're all leading. </div>
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<i style="font-family: '"arial"', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">(There's a good little piece about the backstory behind the story here -- </span><b style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-guernsey-literary-potato-peel-pie-society-20180814-story.html" target="_blank">LA TIMES</a> </b><span style="font-size: 14px;">)</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>(Top image from Zimmerman's new collection, 'Corsage' -- more on this below.)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WRITING WORKSHOPS</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>(HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN BOOK)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">If you dream of writing your own book, be it a <b>design book, memoir, or novel,</b> I hope you'll come along to our intensive, one-day </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">WRITING AND PUBLISHING WORKSHOPS. </span></span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">They not only</span></span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">look at the nuts and bolts of writing a book, but also how to get your book or proposal to the attention of publisher. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">It's short notice, I know, but there's ONE place left this weekend -- <b>Sunday August 26 -- in the library at my beachside home on the coast of the Mornington Peninsula. And TWO places on Sunday, September 2nd, in a beautiful venue in Melbourne. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">There may be another <b>Writing and Publishing Workshop in London in mid-September </b>(we're just finalizing it now) -- please email me for details (email on website). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">More than anything, I w</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ould love to help you all with your books, whether they're novels, biographies, memoirs, travel books, design and architecture books, or anything you'd like to write. We need more good stories in this world. </span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">See this link -- <a href="http://www.janellemcculloch-officialwebsite.com f" target="_blank">www.janellemcculloch-officialwebsite.com f</a>or details </b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">NB: A huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has bought </span><b style="font-size: 14px;"><i>Gardens of Style: Private Hideaways of the Design World </i></b><span style="font-size: 14px;">(Rizzoli New York). Your support and sales helped it reach </span><b style="font-size: 14px;">number one on Amazon (US) in the '</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 14px;">Garden Design' category in May.</span></b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> I am so deeply grateful, and so very touched, as is everyone who worked on this wonderful book. It was a beautiful project, and I'm so thankful to the entire team. Even Tory Burch did a lovely post on it here --</span><b style="font-size: 14px;"> <a href="http://www.toryburch.com/blog-post/blog-post.html?bpid=412604" target="_blank">TORY BURCH</a> </b></span></span></span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE GARDENS OF BUNNY MELLON</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Here's a glimpse of the glorious new book about by Linda Holden about the style and gardening icon <b>Bunny Mellon.</b> With last year's biography being such a huge success, it was inevitable that more books about this extraordinary person would follow. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Bunny Mellon was known for her wealth but she was also incredibly talented at garden design. One of her commissions was the the</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> formal and vegetable gardens at <b>Hubert de Givenchy’s French home, Château du Jonchet.</b> (Mellon, in turn, had many of her clothes designed by Givenchy, including her gardening hats and smocks.) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This book features many of Ms Mellon's garden plans, watercolors, and illustrations, as well as vintage photographs by Horst, Aarons, and others of Mellon’s gardens, including her main residence, Oak Spring (above), and also her gardens and homes in Cape Cod, Nantucket, Antigua, and New York. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">PS </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">There's a wonderful article about Bunny Mellon's interiors and garden by <i><b>Architectural Digest </b></i>here -- </span><a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/bunny-mellon-garden-interior-design-article" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">BUNNY MELLON</a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Vendome Press. Published O</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ctober 30, 2018. US$60</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnVxbE30SIKkTd724DqCH-hFeVdYQb130y7VGY2E37hY5c4nL7PewTRnzA7LrBAX2wS0zzkmXFWFbLkYlIAYbGUeuhtAqTlZXTnHE6ig2dP_hXXT5OWYlEDCC8O6mDkSI0wy1RapSESc/s1600/ToryBurch_BunnyMellon_Antigua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1115" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnVxbE30SIKkTd724DqCH-hFeVdYQb130y7VGY2E37hY5c4nL7PewTRnzA7LrBAX2wS0zzkmXFWFbLkYlIAYbGUeuhtAqTlZXTnHE6ig2dP_hXXT5OWYlEDCC8O6mDkSI0wy1RapSESc/s640/ToryBurch_BunnyMellon_Antigua.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>TORY BURCH AND BUNNY MELLON</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">A stylish addendum to the book about Bunny Mellon, above, is the recent article in </span><i style="font-size: 14px;"><b>US Vogue</b></i><span style="font-size: 14px;"> about fashion designer <b>Tory Burch</b>, who bought Bunny Mellon's estate in Antigua, in the Caribbean. Burch has spent the last few years restoring it, with the help of landscape designer Miranda Brooks (who did Anna Wintour's home), and interior designer Daniel Romualdez. The word are almost more interesting than the images, so do read it -- it's beautifully written by Hamish Bowles, who I think is underrated as a storyteller. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I particularly loved the trellised garden room in this tropical hideaway, above. The image on the left is its current form, after Tory Burch's restoration. The image on the right is when Bunny Mellon had it, filled with her beloved pots and plants and topiary.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">LINK HERE – </span></span><a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/tory-burch-antigua-home-tour-vogue-september-2018-issue" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">VOGUE</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVSQCwWbnD_UC3h4rGWfm1daryVrmm5CyimIY8KLRcWCsUI3hXcgxbAZdFTldtEfIr4cdpqHElLSlwYvFgKt410AU2W5t71Oi4_5GhiMA4BhDyJUbxEBQnVp-pSsF_j8omMAo9AH5mAI/s1600/Eksel_BotanicalFrenchTrellis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1179" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVSQCwWbnD_UC3h4rGWfm1daryVrmm5CyimIY8KLRcWCsUI3hXcgxbAZdFTldtEfIr4cdpqHElLSlwYvFgKt410AU2W5t71Oi4_5GhiMA4BhDyJUbxEBQnVp-pSsF_j8omMAo9AH5mAI/s640/Eksel_BotanicalFrenchTrellis1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>GARDEN ROOM GLAMOUR</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">If you fancy a trellised garden room of your own, <b><i>House and Garden UK</i></b> has just featured this glorious wallpaper --<b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>‘Botanical French Trellis’ </b>-- a custom-made wallpaper mural, from £294 a square meter. It's from </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Iksel</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>. </b>Guaranteed to make even the smallest powder room feel like a grand conservatory.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>DETAILS HERE -– <a href="https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/august-2018-main-decoration" target="_blank">HOUSE & GARDEN</a></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>LINK HERE – <a href="http://www.iksel.com/" target="_blank">IKSEL</a></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKZKGWemU5ZYyPfnM3zuFdRuGXPkoxV2McJIgX9_351ar0IuL1hx_MWMa8MUcoqck-91Kbe1Osdn7QXkcYQK1RmAKtYZR5F__tzKR_tOjebHY-w1nTo_yuM6xnOMkLLh3meOnLvCzp2E/s1600/Zimmerman_CorsageCollection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKZKGWemU5ZYyPfnM3zuFdRuGXPkoxV2McJIgX9_351ar0IuL1hx_MWMa8MUcoqck-91Kbe1Osdn7QXkcYQK1RmAKtYZR5F__tzKR_tOjebHY-w1nTo_yuM6xnOMkLLh3meOnLvCzp2E/s640/Zimmerman_CorsageCollection.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE NEW CORSAGE COLLECTION</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>(CONSERVATORY CHIC)</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Do you follow <b>Zimmerman?</b> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It's a gorgeous Australian label that's become a major name in New York and London. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I adored the Edwardian-looking pieces earlier this year. </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The forthcoming <b>Corsage Collection </b>(above) is sublime.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>LINK HERE – </b></span><a href="https://www.zimmermannwear.com/z-videos/" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">ZIMMERMAN</a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>LONDON MEETS NEW YORK CITY</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">One of the most glamorous homes I've seen this year has just been featured in <b><i>House & Garden UK. </i></b>Designed for a couple who moved back to London after being in New York for years, it mixes Manhattan glamour with English understatement. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The design firm was </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Maddux Creative,</b> a two-person show made up of <b>Scott Maddux and Jo leGleud.</b> They commissioned the </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">paint specialist<b> Isabelle Day</b> to colour the arched entrance hall in Ben Nicholson-esque blocks of blue and sage and ochre, and then saturate the dining green in deep </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">viridian green, which blends seamlessly with the view of the garden. In the white marble in the adjoining kitchen, rolling library ladders provide access to high cupboards, while</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> the drawing room features an elegant curved sofa by Vladimir Kagan and voluminous, asymmetric curtains inspired by Alber Elbaz's designs for Lanvin. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The bathroom, however, is the pièce de résistance. Inspired by Le Meurice hotel in Paris, it is a lavish marriage of unlacquered brass and Arabescato marble. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>LINK HERE – <a href="https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/grand-contemporary-house-maddux-creative" target="_blank">House & Garden UK</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrwv8_CGQ7HKudlGnuEJxgI0biqBWCOtp2C73Lf_757xX5umzet6EFRvx0qsOmwdhvPUKzd4U_MhjKmAlJd2z5_YxwZesK_04EwTb9pgP-cYf2RjYRDdDlTsJRuLJxEgEDxA6cAVXifk/s1600/CabanaAnthology1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1202" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrwv8_CGQ7HKudlGnuEJxgI0biqBWCOtp2C73Lf_757xX5umzet6EFRvx0qsOmwdhvPUKzd4U_MhjKmAlJd2z5_YxwZesK_04EwTb9pgP-cYf2RjYRDdDlTsJRuLJxEgEDxA6cAVXifk/s640/CabanaAnthology1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">THE WORLD OF CABANA</span></span></span></b></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">If you love design, you must look for an issue of <b><i>Cabana Magazine</i></b>, the bi-annual tome that covers some of the most intriguing, elaborate, and extraordinary interiors in the world. But if you can't find it, the beautiful new book – </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b><i>Cabana Anthology </i></b>by</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Martina Mondadori Sartogo – covers all</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> ten issues.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">In the words of its author, <i>Cabana Anthology </i>explores the “intellectual and emotional intimacy with buildings and their surroundings... the intense relationship of thought, place and the person." Cabana Anthology, says its author, is about "the magic of atmosphere and aesthetics inspired by the classics and Italian art history, and interiors where old and new are assembled to reflect the soul and history of a person or a family, not a stylist.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Look for it in bookstores, or order online.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DIOR AND HIS DECORATORS: A NEW BOOK</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Whenever today’s tastemakers reach for gray and white, leopard and houndstooth, satin skirts and sunburst mirrors, they pay homage to the chic of Dior. Now a new book chronicles the great couturier's love of interiors and furniture. <b><i>DIOR AND HIS DECORATORS </i></b>is the first work on the two Parisian interior designers most closely associated with Christian Dior, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Victor Grandpierre and Georges Geoffrey, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">and the first study of the evolution of Dior’s aesthetic as seen through his houses. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">uthor Maureen Footer, an expert in French decorative arts and former interior designer in her own right, recounts the lives and work of this influential trio, illustrated with a trove of evocative vintage photographs. Grandpierre created not only the chic, elegantly restrained look of Dior’s salons (pale gray walls, white moldings, and Louis XVI–style chairs) but also the template for the Dior brand, including typeface, logo, signage, and packaging—still followed to this day. Georges Geffroy, an aesthete and connoisseur of eighteenth-century antiques, shepherded Dior into the couture world with an introduction to the couturier Robert Piguet in 1937. When Dior acquired a townhouse in the fashionable 16th arrondisement, he asked both Grandpierre and Geffroy (who worked independently) to design the interior, assigning the private rooms to the former and the public rooms to the latter. The results were, like Dior’s haute couture creations, rich, sensual, and refined. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">After Dior’s untimely death in 1957, both Grandpierre and Geffroy went on to design salons for other couturiers, as well as homes for royals, Parisian socialites, fabulously wealthy ex-pats, and celebrated film stars and artists, ranging from Yves Saint Laurent and Marcel Rochas to Baron de Redé, Arturo López-Willshaw, Élie and Liliane de Rothschild, Gloria Guinness, Daisy Fellowes, and Maria Callas. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>There's a good article by Architectural Digest here – <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-christian-diors-favorite-decorators-transformed-postwar-france" target="_blank">DIOR in AD</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Abrams. Published September 2018.</b></span></span></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-8486437396480731242018-04-25T04:17:00.001-07:002018-04-25T04:29:02.356-07:00GARDENS OF STYLE in the NY Times and Architectural Digest <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you follow the <b><span style="color: blue;">New York Times' T magazine's</span></b> Instagram page, <b><span style="color: blue;">Architectural Digest's </span></b>online feed, and my own modest (and irregularly updated) Instagram page (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author/?hl=en" target="_blank"><b>LINK HERE</b></a>), you'll know that a beautiful and rather ambitious book we've been working on for many years called <span style="color: blue;"><b>GARDENS OF STYLE: PRIVATE HIDEAWAYS OF THE DESIGN WORLD</b> </span>has just been published by New York publishing company Rizzoli.<br />
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This book was such a team effort, and we are all so thrilled to see the final result! It was such a risky book, but has turned out beautifully -- mostly thanks to all the wonderful people involved in the project.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>CLICK HERE FOR: <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/gardens-of-style-book" target="_blank">ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST LINK</a></b></span></div>
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All the designers featured in GARDENS OF STYLE were all such a delight to work with. They are all hands-on gardeners, and their gardens are not just testament to their green thumbs but also serve as beautiful inspiration for their fashion and design collections. </div>
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<b>Aerin Lauder, Bunny Williams, Carolyne Roehm, Ben Pentreath, Jeffrey Bilhuber, Celerie Kemble, Robert Couturier, Paolo Moschino, Gary McBournie, Roman and Williams,</b> and many others featured in this book have all drawn on their private gardens for their work, using the flowers, foliage, lines and forms to influence and inform their projects and collections. </div>
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Two of the designers, <b>Christian Dior </b>and <b>David Hicks,</b> were as famous for their gardens as they were for their designs, with Dior using his beloved flowers to create his magnificent silhouettes. In fact, writing the Dior chapter was unexpectedly moving, knowing that he always viewed himself as "a simple gardener" rather than a couturier, and always suspected he would have been happier had he been allowed to retreat from the world and the stresses of his fashion collections to tend to his beloved rose beds.<br />
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<b>GARDENS OF STYLE</b> was commissioned by Rizzoli in late 2015, and it has particular significance for me, because I began work on it only a few weeks after my father passed away from a brain tumour in September that year. In fact, I flew from Australia to New York for the first editorial meeting barely two weeks after my father's memorial service. I'm sure I looked a mess after months of crying, but my editor was very gracious, and so we began the long and complicated process of planning the gardens to be featured.<br />
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This was aways going to be a difficult book, not just because of the logistics involved in shooting all the international gardens -- shoots rely on seasons and weather as much as their owners and their schedules -- but also because of the sheer distances involved. For one of the shoots, I flew from Australia to Provence and back again in 4 days - 48 hours of flying in total -- and then, just three days later, I repacked the bag and flew 24 hours back to Europe again. Another time, I flew home from New York to Australia, received an email to shoot Aerin Lauder's magnificent garden in the Hamptons, and got a flight straight back to the US again. And yet another garden, in the Dominican Republic, was shot a week before a major hurricane hit. But every air mile was worth it to venture beyond the garden gates of these remarkable estates and gardens, all of which are private, and most of which are rarely open to the public.<br />
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It really was a great, great privilege to see these places, and an even greater privilege to shoot them. I am still grateful. So very, very grateful.<br />
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From the elegant formality of <b>David Hicks' famous garden in Oxfordshire </b>to the romantic flower beds of <b>Carolyne Roehm's country estate in Connecticut</b> to the enormous potager and overflowing produce of <b>Emma Bridgewater's castle garden in England </b>to the astounding design of <b>Celerie Kemble's tropical hideaway in the Dominican Republic,</b> every garden featured has its own beauty, its own charm, its own secrets, it own splendour. <br />
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Perhaps what I remember most about doing this book is the people who helped produce this book -- the designers who created and own these gardens, the head gardeners who clipped the hedges and parterres ready for photographing, the assistants and staff who helped set up the shoots, and of course the entire team at Rizzoli, who helped polish it ready for publication.<br />
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There were also many, many wonderful lunches and teas with these designers, and no words can adequately express how grateful I was for these lovely balmy afternoon, amongst the flower beds and box hedges. Some of the gardens were so beautiful, I had a quiet tear when I got in the hire car and drove away.<br />
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I hope the beauty of these magnificent estates is evident on the pages. And I hope that, if you buy a copy (<i>a great Mother's Day -- hint hint!</i>), you enjoy these gardens as much as I and my team has done.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>GARDENS OF STYLE: PRIVATE HIDEAWAYS OF THE DESIGN WORLD</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rizzoli New York</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Published April 10, 2018</b></div>
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<b>Available through most bookshops, or online.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Style-Private-Hideaways-Design/dp/0847861899" target="_blank">AMAZON LINK</a> </span></b></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-74783787923919577782017-08-18T10:56:00.002-07:002017-08-19T01:31:29.586-07:00New Books, Beautiful Films, Floral Places, and Other Nice Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">GARDENS OF STYLE</span></b></div>
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I am thrilled to post that after two years of planning, many, many photography shoots around the world, and a great deal of logistics involving 15 gardens and their delightful owners (who are not only some of the world's most admired designers but also the nicest), my new book for <b>Rizzoli New York, GARDENS OF STYLE </b>is now in the final stages of production.</div>
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We are still refining page designs, so these are works-in-progress, forgive me, but it's just a little glimpse. I'm so thrilled with it -- and a little exhausted from it too, especially straight off the back of the huge biography. But it's been such a pleasure to work with the most wonderful team, particularly my patient, kind book designer <b>Alissa Dinallo</b>. (<a href="http://www.instagram.com/alissadinallo/" target="_blank"><b>www.instagram.com/alissadinallo</b></a> )</div>
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I will keep posting updates of the release date of <b>GARDENS OF STYLE </b>here and on my instagram, so follow along on Instagram if you're not already on Insta :</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author</a> </b></div>
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<b>Rizzoli's publication date</b> for <b>GARDENS OF STYLE </b>at this stage is <b>April 2018 </b>- if I can make the September deadline! </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW DESIGN BOOKS</span></b></div>
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I was recently chatting to a new friend, Kim, from Lily Pond Geelong (a beautiful store, do visit), and she was lamenting the dearth of design books at present. Here are a few that I think would be good for the Christmas Wish Lists.</div>
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<b>THE ANATOMY OF COLOUR</b></div>
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Robert Bevan has been dubbed 'the paint detective' for his research uncovering hidden colors and paints and indeed the histories of great buildings. (He discovered the artist Whistler's original studio.) Baty's specialist paint business in Chelsea, Papers and Paints, is famous in design circles for finding rare and beautiful colours for interior designers and architects' requirements. (Ben Pentreath uses them.) This book, based on Bevan's research degree, is a fascinating look at colours over the centuries. The photos of gracious and grand old buildings are wonderful. <i>Thames & Hudson, $120.</i></div>
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<b>MAKING MAGNIFICENCE</b></div>
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Christine Casey has spent 10 years researching the travels, fortunes, and fame of an extraordinary group of plasterwork craftsmen who came to dominate the 'great rooms' (or their ceilings) of palatial houses in early eighteenth-century Europe. These <i>stuccatori </i>were masters of plasterwork, and their embellished rooms are some of the most beautiful in the world. <i>Yale University Press.</i></div>
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<b>GARDENS OF COURT AND COUNTRY</b></div>
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Charts the development of the English formal garden from 1630 to 1730. A beautiful book. The cover alone is worth the price. <i>Yale Books.</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">AND A NEW NOVEL EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT...</span></b></div>
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This novel has captivated everyone who's read it, and I'm about to start, although the cover pulled me in immediately. It's a novel of two stories by <b>Booker-shortlisted writer Michèle Roberts. </b>The first belongs to Madeleine, who loses her job as a lecturer and decides to leave her flat in cobbled Stew Lane and move to Apricot Place. There, she senses the past encroaching as strange noises begin to haunt her life. The second narrative starts in 1851 and belongs to Joseph Benson, a researcher who spends time in Apricot Place. As these entwined stories unfold, alive with the sensations of London past and present, the two eras brush against each other. A haunting tale of desire, isolation and loss, and the search for human connection, it's winning over all the reviewers. I love a good ghost story! <i>Bloomsbury.</i></div>
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<b>Review here - <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/53daf492-204b-11e7-b7d3-163f5a7f229c" target="_blank">Financial Times Review</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BEYOND THE ROCK BIOGRAPHY - </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">PUBLICITY EVENTS</span></b></div>
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My book designer for <b><i>Gardens of Style,</i></b> Alissa Dinallo, was actually the design talent behind the incredible jacket and page designs for the Joan Lindsay biography <b>Beyond The Rock.</b> This biography has just been entered into the prestigious <b>Stella Prize,</b> and I am about to do another round of publicity, so if you would like to hear about <b>Joan Lindsay</b>, the story behind the famous literary mystery <b><i>Picnic at Hanging Rock</i></b>, what is true and what isn't, and what we had to cut out at the very end, please come along to one of these events. I'd love to see you and say hello!</div>
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Many of the events for this book earlier this year - including the event with actress Helen Morse - were booked out, and many people missed out, so if you'd like to hear about this strange and beautiful story, do come along. It would be so nice to meet you!</div>
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<b>FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR BEYOND THE ROCK: THE LIFE OF JOAN LINDSAY AND THE MYSTERY OF PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK </b></div>
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<b><u>SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23</u></b></div>
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<b>Ballan Library, near Ballarat, 10AM</b></div>
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143 Inglis Street, Ballan, Victoria.</div>
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Phone: 0419 519 650</div>
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Author talk</div>
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<b>Bookings and details -- <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/author-talk-janelle-mcculloch-tickets-36736687421" target="_blank">Ballan Library</a></b></div>
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<b><u>TUESDAY OCTOBER 10 </u></b></div>
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<b>Lilydale Library (Eastern Libraries), </b><b>10AM</b></div>
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Lilydale Lake Road, Lilydale </div>
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Phone: (03) 9800 6457</div>
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Talk and afternoon tea, with book signing</div>
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<b>Further details from Lilydale Library closer to date</b></div>
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<b><u>OCTOBER 15 - 22</u> </b></div>
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<b>Frankston Library, Frankston (Part of History Week)</b></div>
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60 Playne Street, Frankston</div>
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Phone: (03) 9784 1020</div>
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Author talk</div>
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<b>Details TBC, see this website or Frankston Library closer to date</b></div>
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<b><u>WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25 </u></b></div>
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<b>Nedlands Library, Perth</b></div>
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<b>Day of Literary Feasting </b></div>
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60 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands, Western Australia </div>
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Phone: (08) 9273 3500. </div>
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Email: E library@nedlands.wa.gov.au</div>
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Writing workshop and author talk</div>
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<b>Details from Redlands Library in Perth closer to date</b></div>
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<b><u>FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 </u></b></div>
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<b>Stonnington Literary Festival, 6.30PM - 8PM</b></div>
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Malvern Library, 1255 High Street, Malvern</div>
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Author talk</div>
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<b>Details released by Stonnuington Council and Malvern Library closer to time.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE (LONG-AWAITED) DAY OF DIOR</span></b></div>
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<b>The House of Dior i</b>s in the process of opening three major exhibitions around the world, one of which has opened in <b>Paris at Musée des Arts Décoratifs</b>, and the other is about to open next week, here in <b>Melbourne at the NGV</b>. </div>
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The Melbourne exhibition is the first complete Dior collection to be shown outside of Paris and features 140 garments from <b>Christian Dior Couture, </b>including Dior's signature ballgowns and evening dresses and current contemporary designs from the House's first female head designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri. </div>
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As well, it will show an archive of photographs, sketches and works from previous designers at the House of Dior, such as <b>Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano and Raf Simons</b>. </div>
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Showing at the <b>NGV Melbourne</b>, from next week (27 August) until to <b>7 November, 2017.</b> </div>
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The <b>Paris</b> exhibition <b>at Musée des Arts Décoratifs </b>runs until <b>7 January, 2018.</b></div>
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<b>Details and tickets here: <a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/the-house-of-dior/" target="_blank">Dior NGV</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">TULIP FEVER: THE FILM</span></b></div>
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One of the most beautiful new movies to be released this year is this glorious new costume drama called <b><i>Tulip Fever, </i></b>which is based on Deborah Moggach’s bestselling novel. </div>
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Set in 17th century Amsterdam, it centres on a beautiful young married woman (played by Alicia Vikander from <i>The Danish Girl </i>and <i>The Light Between Oceans</i>), who begins a passionate affair with an artist hired to paint her portrait. The lovers gamble on the booming market for tulip bulbs as a way to raise money to run away together. The trailer has just been banned in the US due to the 'racy' sex scene (which is about as racy as a tulip). </div>
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As well as Alicia Vikander, the film also stars <b>Judi Dench, Tom Hollander,</b> model-of-the-moment <b>Cara Delevingn</b>e, and <b>Christoph Waltz</b> (from <i>Django Unchained)</i>. The script is by Tom Stoppard, so it should be good. </div>
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<b><i>Tulip Fever </i></b>is slated for US release in September and Australian release on November 23. </div>
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<b>The (not-so-racy) trailer is here: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491203/videoplayer/vi653374489?ref_=vi_nxt_ap" target="_blank">TULIP FEVER</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE NEW PETERSHAM NURSERIES,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">COVENT GARDEN</span></b></div>
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If you're heading to London at any time (don't forget to take <b>LONDON SECRETS</b>, the new guide book! Badly disguised plug there...), one must-see stop is <b>Petersham Nurseries' new restaurant, store, deli, and florist in Covent Garden. </b> </div>
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Most of the regulars to London know of<b> Petersham in Richmond</b>, one of the most beautiful destinations in the city. And its glamorous new 'sister' promises to be even more gorgeous. There is a huge retail space, a florist, a delicatessen, a florist, and not one but two restaurants to open soon, called <b>The Petersham and La Goccia. </b></div>
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<b>More details: <a href="https://petershamnurseries.com/covent-garden" target="_blank">Petersham Nurseries Covent Garden</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">OTHER PROJECTS</span></b></div>
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There are many other projects currently in the planning stage for my team, including two new garden books in the early research stages (mock-up above), a new biography (didn't really want to do many more books, but it's about a famous fashion designer so who can refuse such a beautiful subject?), ongoing mentoring of new authors with their exciting publishing projects (something I love doing), a new luggage collection that is still in the R&D stage, using a wonderful pattern maker in Vermont and a bag maker in London, and all of the lovely things going on in our private lives too, which is a lot but I will keep those private for now. </div>
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For now, I hope you'll stay in touch, either by Instagram, email, or good old letter, as some people still do! (NB The blog is problematic at time, so if you can't leave a message, don't worry.)</div>
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<b>Follow along on Instagram for updates -- or just to say hello!</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">JANELLE McCULLOCH - INSTAGRAM</a></b></div>
Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-77482513935529894742017-07-06T07:23:00.001-07:002017-07-06T07:23:17.456-07:00New York: Fashion, Flowers, and Garden Fantasies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few weeks ago, a friend emailed. "Where are you?" she said. "I want to catch up for a drink." I emailed back: "At Burlington Airport, in northern Vermont. I flew up for the day to see my luggage pattern maker. It's so tiny, I think the shop also serves as the check-in! But all flights to New York are delayed for four hours due to the stormy weather. So I may still be here tomorrow..." </div>
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In the end, I made it back to New York that night. But one poor woman, trying to fly home to Seattle, had her flight cancelled, and as compensation was offered a seat on a flight to New York, then another on a flight to Boston, and finally, after a layover of six hours in Boston, a flight home to Seattle. She took it, glad of the chance to get home by Christmas.</div>
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I tell this story because it dissolves the myth that travelling for work is fun. Sometimes it's so tiring, so utterly dull, I don't even take any photos. Because they would just be of boarding lounges. And gate changes. And a fuzzy view of the Manhattan skyline from the back of a crazy, speeding cabbie. But occasionally -- actually more than occasionally -- business trips can be wonderful. Memorable, even. They can make all the long haul flights worthwhile. This recent trip was one such trip. It was a cascade of increasingly lovely, bloomingly beautiful summer days where the sunshine ballooned up from the verdant New York and Connecticut landscapes, and flowers bloomed in places you'd least expect. </div>
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Let me show you. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BUNNY WILLIAMS, CONNECTICUT</span></b></div>
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First on the work schedule was a glorious, early-morning photo shoot at the beautiful garden of <b>New York designer Bunny Williams </b>and her husband, antiques dealer <b>John Rosselli</b>, in a bucolic northern corner of Connecticut. </div>
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This garden is so beautiful that whenever Bunny and John open it -- usually once a month in the summer for charity<i> (see <b>garden conservancy.org</b> or the <b>Trade Secrets Garden Fair </b>website)</i> -- people drive for miles to visit. One couple I spoke to return year after year to collect ideas for their own garden. I've been lucky enough to see it before, and I, too, noticed many changes on this visit, the most significant of which is the addition of Bunny's amazing new <b>design studio</b>. And judging by the exclamations of visitors walking up the stairs when the garden opened at 10AM, it was the hit of the day.</div>
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This is the studio, below. I tell you, I think I heard a grown man cry in envy.</div>
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The bookshelves ran the length of the studio, which was twice the size of the space pictured above. The elongated room was beautifully bookended each end by enormous picture windows that looked out over the green Connecticut countryside. There was a grand fireplace, too. And a kitchen and bathroom, with a gym below. </div>
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But it was the books that held court here. There were hundreds of design and gardening titles. And everything was intriguing. Even Bunny's mood board, below, was fascinating.</div>
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This is Bunny's famous conservatory, with the windows that look over the equally famous parterre. The chicken coop is fairly legendary, too. </div>
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If you want more details, buy Bunny's bestselling book <b style="font-style: italic;">An Affair With A House, </b>which features lots of chapters on both the interior and the garden. Or just come along to one of the Open Gardens one day. You'll be as enthralled as the rest of us.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CHRISTOPHER SPITZMILLER, UPSTATE NEW YORK</span></b></div>
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From there, it was a short drive across the border to <b>Christopher Spitzmiller's enchanting house and garden</b> in upstate New York, which he had also graciously opened for charity. Ever since it was featured in AD magazine, people have adored this charming place, which Christopher has renovated with his usual flair. </div>
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The highlight for many visitors on this day was the classical white pavilion, which was, in fact, a chicken coop, set charmingly inside an idyllic flower garden blooming with poppies, salvias, and roses. Inside, the kitchen and dining rooms (which Christopher kindly let me see, but which weren't open to the public) were elegant studies in understated sophistication. The dining room was sublime, especially with the botanical wallpaper. But I loved the kitchen the most, I think.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MICHAEL TRAPP, CONNECTICUT</span></b></div>
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The final garden of the weekend wasn't on the Shot List but I added it to the schedule after hearing about it at Bunny Williams. Owned and designed by <b>antiques dealer Michael Trapp</b>, it was well worth the visit. I stayed for hours! Most of the garden featured architectural antiques that Michael had collected over the years, and it was such a joy to walk through. If you love architecture as much as gardens, this is one to put on your future list. </div>
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<i>(Note: Michael Trapp only opens his antiques store on weekends, or by appointment. The garden is private but if you ask nicely, he may allow you to wander through.)</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW PRESTON</span></b></div>
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If you're contemplating a trip to Connecticut to ramble through country gardens and browse antique stores that you can't afford, my best recommendation is to stay in <b>New Preston.</b> It's a sweeter-than-sweet village that is barely the length of a street but is FILLED with unique stores, which mostly specialize in gardens, homewares, and antiques. </div>
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I always stay at <b>The Hopkins Inn</b>, a lovely family-run inn on the lake, which has rooms from $130/n and a charming restaurant that's split between a lovely terrace under shady trees overlooking the lake and a cosy dining room inside. For sheer value, it's one of the best places in New England.<i> (Top right image with sofa.) </i></div>
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My favourite places to shop in New Preston, perhaps in the whole of Connecticut, are <b>Pergola</b> (don't miss the spectacular waterfall behind, which you can see from the store's rear deck) and <b>Dawn Hill Antiques,</b> which has some of the most beautiful Swedish antiques this side of Stockholm.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW YORK CITY</span></b></div>
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Then it was back to New York City for publishing meetings with two of my publishers, and I discovered another great little hotel gem here, which was just $179/n -- even in high season. </div>
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The <b>Hudson Hotel New York</b> is not only close to Central Park for those early-morning walks but also features a grand library for afternoon cocktails, and a spectacular rooftop terrace overlooking the Hudson River, for evening drinks. Even the entrance to the rooftop terrace is an experience, punctuated by bright pink flowers, hammocks, huge tubs of orange trees, and pergolas galore.</div>
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The Hudson Hotel was very cool many years ago (I vaguely remember when it opened), but has now mellowed, thankfully, into an affordable pied-à-terre for people visiting Manhattan who don't want to pay a fortune. Rooms are tiny (you are warned), so upgrade if you're a couple, but you can't complain for $179 for a full bathroom (with bath), and a view like the one above. </div>
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It's also within walking distance of all the great department stores, too, from Bergdorf Goodman to Saks Fifth Avenue, both of which stocked THE most beautiful Dolce & Gabbana collection I've ever seen. Designed around hydrangeas, this new season's D&G line (above) is, quite simply, sublime. Many Instagrammers were posting about it, and even Beyonce bought the flowing chiffon version.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE WHITBY HOTEL</span></b></div>
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Dolce & Gabbana's latest collection is almost as beautiful as this botanical hideaway; <b>The Whitby, </b>Firmdale's newest hotel in their ever-growing collection. Themed around flowers, it's a vibrant poem to petals and also to vintage plates, which are framed on the walls as porcelain art. It's all wonderful, especially the conservatory, which is lovely for a quick lunch. I only stayed an hour but could have lingered all afternoon.</div>
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<i>DETAILS: www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/new-york/the-whitby-hotel</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CAFFE STORICO</span></b></div>
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My other favourite place in New York City is <b>Caffe Storico,</b> which is a little-known cafe within the <b>New York Historical Society </b>on the Upper West Side of Central Park. <i>(DETAILS: www.nyhistory.org/dine)</i> Lined with floor-to-ceiling cabinets full of beautiful dinnerware, and yolk-yellow banquettes that invite you to linger all afternoon, it's a gorgeous spot for an affordable lunch, especially if you follow it with a walk through Central Park. </div>
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I also loved the sights of New York that I came across this same day, such as this firehouse mascot, which the firefighters were clucking over. (Sorry, couldn't help the pun.)</div>
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Another interesting thing to see was <b>Amazon's new bookstore in Columbus Circle's swanky shopping centre.</b> It was FULL of people buying or reading books -- much like Borders used to look like when it was at the height of its popularity. <i>(I was thrilled to see this familiar book chosen as one of the bestsellers / books to buy in the Travel Section. Thank you Amazon staff.)</i></div>
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Also caught up with this charming designer -- Jeffrey Bilhuber, who is one of Manhattan's nicest men -- to look at his chapter for the new Rizzoli garden book. </div>
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He suggested we go to the <b>Majorelle Restaurant</b> at the <b>The Lowell Hotel, </b>which I'd never been to but which I fell in love with at first sight. The floral bouquets were as beautiful as the architectural details. Even the bookshelves full of design books. </div>
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It's all very 'old New York', as in very elegant, very dignified, and very, very sophisticated. (Most of the women were wearing Chanel.) We stayed in the bar, but if you're dining, it's a dress-up kind-of place. Wear the heels. And drink Champagne!</div>
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Other detours included a quick trip to the Hamptons to see the new <b>One Kings Lane pop-up store,</b> which is already causing a stir for its stylish blue kitchen, and a visit to the Madoo Garden Fair, a once-a-year gathering of elegant gardenistas selling all kinds of lovely antiques and topiary. </div>
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Then it was home to our own far-more-ordinary blue-toned abode (top left), and to finishing books in time for the end-of-year deadlines.</div>
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I hope that, wherever you are, you're having a beautiful, bloom-filled season too.</div>
Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-55184402664070086402017-06-03T23:05:00.002-07:002017-07-06T05:16:03.355-07:00JUNE IN BLOOM: Books, Bouquets, Fashion, and Hideaways<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcYSxhuldUUXVd6yJq5cp2UUdQBirjcypzFy7-CjNYeVVVP9gmAa4JD7K9WBCwyd9C_3DakGoqoWvSyIb_ARlDB1v4V-lMiopMbNaEE6qzBUtCjyoDGv_3IqydKBrC44UV-QqSReGgAM/s1600/GardenBook3_JanelleMcCulloch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="727" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcYSxhuldUUXVd6yJq5cp2UUdQBirjcypzFy7-CjNYeVVVP9gmAa4JD7K9WBCwyd9C_3DakGoqoWvSyIb_ARlDB1v4V-lMiopMbNaEE6qzBUtCjyoDGv_3IqydKBrC44UV-QqSReGgAM/s640/GardenBook3_JanelleMcCulloch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">JUNE IN BLOOM</span></b></div>
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June is traditionally the garden lover's favourite month. It's the time when most gardens, certainly those in the northern hemisphere, are in full floraison. I love this time of year in England, Europe and the US; the roses are in blousy, full-petalled bloom, the days begin early and end late -- usually in a glorious golden light; there are countless private gardens that have graciously opened their gates for charity days, and there are floral borders galore to explore. Even if you're ensconced in winter in the southern hemisphere, there is something uplifting about seeing all the gardenalia on Instagram and in magazines. Gardens take us places. Even if we can't experience them in person, their beauty transports us to a place of grace, away from the pressures and stresses of everyday.</div>
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I'm actually on a 'botanical break' at present -- I had to take a few weeks off social media in order to focus on some pressing projects, including a big garden book (above), which has been a joy to work on, despite the logistical difficulties. I hope you'll love the gardens that we've featured in it, including the stunning country estates of Carolyne Roehm, Jeffrey Bilhuber, and many other celebrated design names.</div>
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But I will be back on Instagram in a week or two with some beautiful pix of gardens, grand and small. After a crazy year of deadlines, more deadlines, endless nights of writing and endless days of all work and little exercise, it has been wonderful to <i>get out of the office finally;</i> to go for long walks with my partner and our dogs again, and to catch up with friends over Champagne and laughter and stories galore.<i> (I caught up with so many of them last month, during various events for the biography -- seeing everyone was the best part of the publicity tour.) </i></div>
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There's nothing like flowers and friendships to make a person appreciate life, I think. I'm deeply grateful for my friends, new and old; for the books we exchange, the cakes they bake<i> (see our 'feast' of an afternoon tea at Picardy garden last month; I didn't contribute to these vegan fantasies but I did make Picardy wrapping paper and bought gifts of books)</i>, for the wonderful and often funny stories that are told, and for all the the memories that linger long after everyone has departed.</div>
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So here's to June. To travel, flowers, laughter, friends, family, books, and botanica. </div>
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May it be a beautiful month for you, too.<i> </i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(All pix above by me, excluding the beautiful image of the glorious iris garden in Carolyne Roehm's country home, which Carolyne has kindly supplied for our new garden book.)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">SUMMER GARDENS TO VISIT IN CONNECTICUT</span></div>
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If you're in New York or New England in June, there are four magnificent private gardens opening their gates to the public on <b>June 17 and 18 as part of the wonderful Garden Conservancy organization.</b></div>
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<b>Bunny Williams' </b>beautiful garden is one, <b>Michael Trapp's</b> another. Both are in Litchfield County, Connecticut. (I will be visiting both of these, so will post pix on Instagram.)</div>
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Across the border in Duchess County, in upstate New York, there are two more gorgeous garden that are well worth the drive. <b>Christopher Spitzmiller's</b> idyllic garden <i>(two images above of Christopher's interior and garden above from Christopher's website, shot by Archi Digest)</i> is as pretty as his lamps, while <b>Katie Ridder and Peter Pennoyer's </b>garden has become known the world over thanks to their bestselling book, <i>A House in the Country. (Top image; house with red door).</i></div>
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<b>More details: www.gardenconservancy.org</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">SUMMER GARDENS TO VISIT IN ENGLAND</span></b></div>
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If you happen to be in England in June, there are two gardens that are well worth visiting. </div>
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<b>Amanda Lack Clark's garden at Seend Manor </b><i>(interior and garden shown above) </i>is a sublime country estate in <b>Wiltshire </b>that is so beautiful, many of us follow her Instagram just to catch glimpses of it among the other delightful pix of her life. Seend is having a rare <b>Open Garden event on June 17 and 18</b>; details are on various sites -- Google "Seend Manor" for more. </div>
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Amanda's Instagram <i>(from which came these images) </i>is also worth following -- <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/amandaseend" target="_blank">LINK HERE</a>.</b></div>
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And down in <b>Kent, Old Bladbead Stud</b> <i>(see the three garden images above) </i>is another magnificent private garden that only is open several times a year, with the next days being <b>June 11 and 25</b>. Details are <b><a href="http://www.oldbladbeanstud.co.uk/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </b>Owner Carol also posts photos of the garden on her website (usually weekly in summer), so you can see what's flowering. It's a little-known garden that deserves to be better known. Many gardeners I know say it's one of the prettiest flower gardens in England.</div>
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<b>http://www.oldbladbeanstud.co.uk</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MY LOVELY LONDON GUIDE -- AT LONG LAST!</span></b></div>
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I missed the Chelsea Flower Show this year, for the first time in many years, because of publicity commitments for a new biography. However, I loved seeing everyone's pix on Instagram. If you're heading to London this year and need a few travel tips on where to go (shameless plug!) there is a lovely book out called <b>LONDON SECRETS -- link </b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/London-Secrets-Architecture-History-Interiors/dp/1864706090" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">here.</a><b> </b>It is now in bookshops in London, as well as in the US and elsewhere, and is starting to show up in bookstores in Australia too. (It's also available online.) So if you're going to London this year, I hope you'll consider it -- whether for yourself or as a gift for a UK-bound friend. </div>
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<b>IMAGES PUBLISHING. www.imagespublishing.co</b>m</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A NEW PARIS HIDEWAY FOR FLOWER AND FABRIC FANS</span></b></div>
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I adore the look of this new Paris hotel. It's feminine, sophisticated, witty and whimsical, and doesn't seem to have cut the budget on interior design, either. It's called Hotel de Jobo, and it's been receiving lots of well-deserved press for its stunning design. Designed by Bambi Sloan, (who calls herself "part designer, part storyteller"; what a great line to put on your business card), the hotel was inspired by Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon's first wife and, briefly, Empress of France. Like her husband, Josephine was a bit of a leader, particularly in style and design. She was one of the first to make leopard fashionable, and her love for roses created a craze for them that has not abated since. This hotel has all of her passions and more. It's pretty and witty, and Josephine would have probably adored it!<br />
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<b>DETAILS: www.hoteldejobo.paris</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdgRBIuPDE5YkpJUOpUDOf-_DAIdtCFvpimz25qedClcol8WvMzqMJV5PrbMntWTRfB26x1Sa9Z2Ad74rAS5gDbbOKzzouHPd1zV1kbAI6WjzxGtIrV1UBaCwtaAYlEzBuFwsYBQhyY8/s1600/AliceTemperley_Instagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1063" height="581" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdgRBIuPDE5YkpJUOpUDOf-_DAIdtCFvpimz25qedClcol8WvMzqMJV5PrbMntWTRfB26x1Sa9Z2Ad74rAS5gDbbOKzzouHPd1zV1kbAI6WjzxGtIrV1UBaCwtaAYlEzBuFwsYBQhyY8/s640/AliceTemperley_Instagram.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A BEAUTIFUL NEW BOOK FROM ALICE TEMPERLEY</span></b></div>
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Do you follow British fashion designer <b>Alice Temperley </b>on Instagram? No? Well, if you love fashion and flowers, she is one to add to your list. Her account is full of floaty, romantic dresses but where she differs slightly from most fashion designers is that she often posts scenes from her atelier, too: the detailed shots of the embroidery being done are some of the most beautiful dressmaking images I've ever seen.<span style="text-align: start;"></span><br />
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Alice Temperley has already produced a book, which was a bestseller (I gave it to my sister-in-law, who loved it), and is now finishing a second one, called <i style="font-weight: bold;">Myths and Legends. </i>While the first was all about Alice's life and career, and the challenges she faced, the second gives a more intimate view of the world that Alice inhabits, revealing both practical and sentimental sides of the artist’s creative process. <i>(Images from Temperley's Instagram feed. Alice has her own Instagram, which is worth following too, but the Temperley official Instagram shows more of the designs and collections.)</i><br />
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<b>BOOK DETAILS HERE: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Temperley-English-Myths-Legends/dp/0847848817" target="_blank">Myths & Legends</a></b><br />
<b>INSTAGRAM DETAILS HERE: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/temperleylondon" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/temperleylondon</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">AN INDIAN FASHION LABEL TO LOVE</span></b></div>
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I first spotted the whimsically named <i>I Love Pero </i>fashion label in Scarlett Jones' store several years ago. Since then, I've seen its fame grow. Stylist Sibella Court also loves it. Designed by Delhi fashion designer, Aneeth Arora, it's distributed in both the US and Australia (I'm not sure about Europe), and it stands apart from many other fashion labels for its intricate use of embroidery, which India is a leader in. if you love textiles, fashion, and particularly embroidery, you will love Pero's collections. (Images left and centre are mine; image on right is from I Love Pero's Instagram.)<br />
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<b>INSTAGRAM DETAILS HERE: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/ilovepero" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/ilovepero</a></b><br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A SHIFT TO PINK</span></b></div>
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Have you noticed there is a return to femininity in both fashion and interiors? Flowers too. And much of it seems to be driven by the new love affair with a colour that hasn't been seen for years: <b>palest pink</b>. Or what's been dubbed <b>'millennial pink'.</b></div>
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I first noticed this pretty shade of pink in T<b>he Ivy in Santa Monica</b> <i>(see my image of The Ivy restaurant; first image above),</i> where it was the perfect backdrop to the bright, beachy upholstery and stunning fresh flowers that are always a feature of this place. </div>
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Then I saw it at <b>Sketch</b> in London, and<i> then</i> at the new <b>Playa Grande hideaway in the Dominican Republic </b>last year <i>(see my images above)</i>, where <b>Celerie Kemble </b>has used it sparingly but beautifully (it is the exact shade of the beach in front of the estate), painting shutters and floors, and dressing pillows and cushions and select pieces of furniture. It doesn't look <i>too </i>pink because there are acres of white and aquamarine to offset the sugariness. And of course the lush green of the tropical garden and the blue sky above to offer visual reprieve. But take all the other shades away and it still works, I think. It's tropical, but not over the top. Elegant, but understated.</div>
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Then pale pink, or Millennial pink, showed up on the <b>UK <i>Harper's Bazaar's </i>May</b> cover <i>(above; four image from top)</i>, which was a sublime design featuring rosebuds entwined into the masthead. <i>(I loved this cover so much, I used it as inspiration for mini chocolates for our biography launch last month; the blues and pinks perfectly matched the colour of the biogaphy.) </i></div>
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And now I've started seeing this pink in stores, too, including <b>The Rose Street Trading Co </b><i>(above; second image)</i>, which now stocks exquisite vases and boxes, as well as on Instagram, which seems to be showing more and more pink houses -- and pink pieces to go in them. <i>(I can't find where this lovely lantern came from, above. If anyone knows, please tell me so I can credit -- and buy it!)</i></div>
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But perhaps my favourite pink moments have been this <b>gelato flower </b><i>(above)</i>, which is part of a new global ice cream trend that's seeing ice cream sculptured to look like roses (this gelato consists of citrus, stracciatella, mango and raspberry), and this pink wallpaper by <b>de Gourney </b>at Paris Déco Off. Both are utterly sublime.</div>
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Let's hope this elegant, enticing, ultra-feminine colour stays around for a little while longer.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">FLORAL BOOKS TO BUY</span></b></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Have you noticed there's a new genre of garden book? It's all about flower farms! </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">There are several flower farm books out at the moment but one of the best is by </span><b>Erin Benzakein</b>, the founder of <b>Floret Flower Farm</b>, and one of the leaders of the locally grown flower movement in America.<br />
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<b><i>Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden</i></b> has equal parts instruction and inspiration, but what you'll really be doing is gazing at all the images, particularly the fields of dahlias. It's a sumptuous book with beautiful photographs that really show the beauty of this heavenly space on the American West Coast.<br />
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Her instagram is glorious, too.<br />
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<b>INSTAGRAM DETAILS: www.instagram.com/floretflower</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">HARPER'S BAZAAR IN BLOOM</span></b></div>
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Have you noticed how beautiful the UK edition of<i> Harper's Bazaar </i>has become over the past year or so? Ever since Justine Picardie took the reigns, it has blossomed (forgive the pun) into an elegant, sophisticated, surprisingly interesting read. The May and June issues are always my favourite for their garden-focused stories. Even the covers, above, are creative, and daring, and have become, not surprisingly, collector's pieces.<br />
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<b>www.harpersbazaar.co.uk</b></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Wishing you all a lovely June, whatever you may be doing, and wherever you may be. </span></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-52857671293680669002017-03-31T09:31:00.004-07:002017-04-21T04:38:30.016-07:00The Power of Enthralling Stories <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I want to tell you a story. A story about a story.<br />
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Several years ago, I was staying in B&B in Provence when I suddenly realized the engaging hostess I'd been happily chatting to for the past two days was the widow of Pierre Salinger, the well-known politician, journalist, and one-time White House Press Secretary to former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. I'd been vaguely aware of the connection before I checked in, but then work and photo shoots took over and I forgot, until I walked into the library one night holding a small aperitif that she'd kindly offered and noticed the photos of John and Jackie Kennedy. It was then that she began telling me a story. About Pierre. And JFK. And what happened the night that Kennedy was assassinated.<br />
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As the story unfolded, my overworked brain cleared and I began to realize the significance of what was being discussed. And who my hostess was. And so I listened. I listened for the hour that it took to tell (by which time I had pins and needles and needed to wee!), and as I did so, I realized it was an <i>extraordinary </i>story; the kind of story you hear perhaps three or four times in your life. I was immediately captivated but I was also conscious that it was the kind of story that needed to be saved somehow, so it could be retold to future generations. Of course some stories are not for retelling. And perhaps this was one. But, like most journalists and authors, I am of the firm belief that if we don't save such stories, if we don't archive them somehow, they will be forgotten. And then all these great stories that we hear in distant libraries will be lost in the dust of the footsteps of Old Man Time.<br />
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I vowed then that if I was ever fortunate enough to hear another such story, I would write it down.<br />
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As a journalist, I hear stories all the time. We <i>all </i>do. Stories that make us chuckle or laugh, or cry, and wipe our eyes, and cry again. I've even heard stories that were so astonishing, so far outside the boundaries of my beliefs, that I could only shake my head in <i>dis</i>belief. But those are the best stories, I think; the unbelievable ones. Because those are the ones that challenge us, and make us think. Those are the stories that force us to contemplate them, long after the last unbelievable word has been said.<br />
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I have been working on one such story for the past five years. It's the story behind the story of <i>Picnic at Hanging Rock</i>, that beautiful, quietly haunting novel, which Peter Weir turned into an equally beautiful, equally haunting film. And after five years of research and long nights of writing, it is finally being published by Bonnier Publishers this weekend, on April 2, beginning with a two-chapter extract in the <i>Good Weekend </i>magazine in <i>The Age</i> and the <i>Sydney Morning Herald.</i><br />
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It's such an extraordinary story that I think it might even surpass the JFK story in the Intrigue Stakes.<br />
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We are taught that things only exist if they are measurable. If they are not measurable, or quantifiable, we're not sure how to categorize them. But in researching this book, I learned that there is far more to life than what we blithely assume. The story of <i>Picnic at Hanging Rock </i>lies somewhere between the rational and the inexplicable, between reason and wonder, and the story behind it lies somewhere in that strange realm too.<br />
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But it doesn't matter what I believe, or disbelieve -- or indeed what others believe, or disbelieve. <i>Picnic at Hanging Rock</i> remains a great story, 50 years after it was first published. And I hope the story that I've written, the biography of its enigmatic, beautiful, complex, clever author Joan Lindsay, is just as enthralling.<br />
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I also hope that others will write or record similar stories they hear. Because we need these stories, more than ever before. They are part of our history, and our identity, but more than that, they are places of grace; small sanctuaries amid the shoutiness and sound bites and Snapchat grabs of modern society.<br />
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So I hope you'll all record your own life stories one day. And your family's stories. And those stories you hear in a library, in a landscape far away.<br />
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<br />Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-49575075543080144142017-03-25T05:44:00.003-07:002017-04-01T07:31:55.811-07:00Books, Beauty, Venice, Manolo Blahnik, and Grand Adventures...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE YEAR OF ADVENTURES</span></b></div>
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I know it's only March, but there's a definite theme emerging for many people this year, and it's one of adventure. Have you noticed how everyone's planning an <i>adventure</i> in 2017? Not just a trip, but a grand journey, usually to some remote or poetic place? Is it to get away from everything that's happening in the world? Or just a reaction to all the cheap airfares and / or extraordinary exhibitions opening this spring? (Dior, Balenciaga, more Dior...)<br />
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Unfortunately, our travel budget is tight this year, and I'm tethered to work projects, so I had to find an adventure that was a) affordable and b) easy to get to -- preferably in a weekend. The answer was at the end of a 2-hour train ride from Milan, on a misty, wintry, Friday afternoon in February....<br />
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Venice. </div>
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During Carnevale. </div>
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And I can't recommend this adventure enough.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A WATERY, WEEKEND ADVENTURE IN VENICE</span></b></div>
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If you've never been to Venice, go in February. The costumes, wigs, hats, whimsy, watery backdrop, lagoon sunrises, and languid boat trips up the Grand Canal at the end of each foggy afternoon will lift your spirits faster than a fine prosecco. It is a city like no other. And during Carnevale, it becomes a magnificent mise-en-scène that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. </div>
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Lots of pix and tips are on my Instagram here <b><a href="http://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author </a></b></div>
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But if you're considering going to Venice, the best thing to do is not to plan too much. Just book a pretty boutique hotel, and there are plenty available to choose from. (I stayed at <b>AD Place</b> near Piazza San Marco, which has a wonderful Fortuny-like entrance of fabrics, exquisitely pretty striped rooms, and fantastic free breakfasts.) Then grab a map, tuck it in your pocket, and prepare to get lost amongst the grey-blue canals, because that's the best way to experience Venice. </div>
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See the <b>Fortuny Museum </b>(beautiful, but read AS Byatt's book on Fortuny before you do), have dinner at the <b>Aman Hotel </b>(extraordinary interiors), or just buy a mask and join the crowds with their feathers and fun.</div>
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On the Saturday afternoon, having watched the judging of the elaborate costumes in the piazza, I grabbed a Bellini (Venice's famous drink) and sat in the sun in front of the Giardini Reali garden, watching the gondoliers and boats come and go. Dozens of others were doing the same. I'm certain we will all remember that moment, sitting on the steps in the winter sun as the Venetian watercraft went by.<br />
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Venice offered the kind of simple bliss that many of us long for in our lives. All is took was a Bellini and a view to make the heart sing. That's what the best adventures are made of, I think. <i>Simple things.</i><br />
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If you're heading to Venice this year, there are some good books out about the city. <b>Skye McAlpine's </b>beautiful book on her life in Venice is particularly lovely -- and she offers some tips to finding the best of <b>'Secret Venice' here -- <a href="http://www.frommydiningtable.com/secret-venice/" target="_blank">LINK.</a></b> Her <b>Venetian blog</b> is also worth a look -- <b><a href="http://www.frommydiningtable.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>(Her photographs are stunning.)<br />
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There are also new books about Venice from <b>Assouline</b>, including one shot by the talented Australian-New York photographer <b>Robyn Lea.</b> (See post below.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A SARTORIAL ADVENTURE IN MILAN</b></span></div>
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In Milan that same week, I finished a meeting early so I decided to slip in another adventure -- this time of the embroidered variety: the magnificent <b>Manolo Blahnik Exhibition, 'The Art of Shoes'</b>, at the quietly grand <b>Palazzo Morando.</b><br />
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One of the best fashion retrospectives I've ever seen, this free exhibition (until April 9) spans almost 50 years of Mr Blahnik's collections and inspirations -- including his own grand adventures.<br />
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Geographical influences are evident in many of his shoes (his love of Greece, antiquities and architecture certainly shows), but the 'Nature' room is perhaps the most beautiful part of the exhibition. Shoes designed with floral flowers, ivy, leaves, and other embroidered botanical motifs form a kind of romantic greenhouse. Even Manolo Blahnik confesses that he has a soft spot for his garden-inspired designs, particularly 'Ivy', the shoe that he created in 1972 for English fashion designer Ossie Clark.<br />
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If you can't make it to Milan, there's a beautiful book to accompany the exhibition,<b> <i>The Art of Shoes,</i></b> published by Rizzoli.<br />
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<b>MANOLO BLAHNIK: THE ART OF SHOES</b></div>
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<b>PALAZZO MORANDO, MILAN. UNTIL APRIL 9. </b></div>
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<b>(THEN TOURING TO MADRID, TORONTO AND OTHER CITIES.)</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A BLOOMSBURY ADVENTURE IN LONDON</span></b></div>
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In London, I was lucky enough to catch another stunning exhibition, <b>Vanessa Bell: 1879-1941</b>, which chronicles the remarkable life and career of <b>Vanessa Bell</b>, who is finally achieving her own fame away from her sister <b>Virginia Woolf </b>and the rest of the outrageously talented <b>Bloomsbury Set.</b></div>
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The exhibition, at the Dulwich Gallery, isn't large, but is imbued with glorious, Bloomsbury-esque beauty, most notably in the paintings, portraits, letters, still lives, landscapes, notes, drawings, and photos of Charleston and the characters who lived, loved, gardened, painted, fought and loved again in the bucolic charm of the now-famous farmhouse.</div>
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There's a great <i>Guardian </i>article called <b>Design and Desires: How Vanessa Bell Put The Bloom in Bloomsbury </b>here -- <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/jan/27/design-and-desires-how-vanessa-bell-put-the-bloom-in-bloomsbury" target="_blank"><b>LINK</b>.</a> And there are several good biographies about Bell, the best of which is Frances Spalding's fantastic book. </div>
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Or look for a copy of the March issue of UK <i>Harper's Bazaar, </i>which has several articles about the exhibition and also Charleston. (They might now be online). The most touching tribute in <i>Harper's</i> was an article by Bell's granddaughter, Virginia Nicholson, who praises her grandmother's "adventurousness". </div>
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Vanessa Bell, you certainly were a quiet achiever.</div>
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<b>VANESSA BELL. DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY. UNTIL JUNE 4</b></div>
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<b>LINK HERE -- <a href="http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/about/press-media/press-releases/dulwich-announces-major-vanessa-bell-exhibition-for-2017/" target="_blank">INFO</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A LITERARY ADVENTURE IN MELBOURNE</span></b></div>
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One of the things I've learned after being in publishing and books for so long is how far a gracious attitude will take you. Gratitude and thank-you emails are also important, of course -- in any career -- but being kind is imperative.I always try and practice kindness, even when situations are difficult, or relationships become strained, or illness / fatigue or other wearying factors test the patience. But I'm far from perfect. And I often fall down under the pressure of stress. But I always get up from the floor, apologise, and keep trying. Because graciousness and kindness are more important than ever. They're the only things that will get us through this turbulent year, I think.</div>
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Bestselling author and photographer <b>Robyn Lea</b> is an example of real kindness -- and how it can take you far in life. Formerly based in Milan and New York, Robyn now travels between Australia and the rest of the world for her work, and her photography schedule makes me dizzy! She is working on 10 (I think? It could be more?) books at the moment, including several Assouline titles. She is the epitome of an adventurous spirit. </div>
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This is her library and work space. Gorgeous, non? </div>
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But when I popped in to see her recently, what impressed me even more than her adventurous spirit was her generosity. She put me onto a contact of hers who is scouting for new stories for SBS, which then springboarded into a meeting next week. Even if it doesn't amount to anything, I was deeply touched by the gesture. </div>
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This is her beautiful new book, <i>Dinner With Georgia O'Keefe.</i> It's out now (Assouline), and is a follow-up to the New York Times bestseller <i>Dinner with Jackson Pollack</i>. </div>
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Both titles are filled with beautiful photos and delicious recipes, and would make gorgeous gifts!</div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-61860035769578612532016-12-31T20:36:00.001-08:002017-01-03T04:20:09.861-08:00Looking Back. And Forward. To Beautiful Things in 2017.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, what a year it's been. These past 12 months have really delivered some one-two punches, and they took some fine people down with them. Such as A. A. Gill. And George Michael. And of course Muhammed Ali.<br />
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Just when we thought all was lost, however, hope floated in from some unexpected places. Writer <b>Nikki Gemmell </b>felt her year turn in December after she shed her clothes and took an impromptu nudie dip in the Sydney Harbour with friends. Inspired by her thoughtful, reflective column about the day, the dip, and indeed the year (which is here : <i><b><a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/leaping-back-into-the-light/news-story/99b0796b65117bd4923409b3865c3d0a" target="_blank">The Australian newspaper</a>), </b></i>we decided to follow her salty initiative and spent a glorious week in and around Sydney harbour over Christmas (above). Like Nikki Gemmell, we felt the salt soak into our skin and remembered the joy in living simply.<br />
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Like Nikki Gemmell, many others were sanguine as the year came to an end. Even usually cynical A.A. Gill was uncharacteristically grateful in his final columns. "I feel very lucky", he said, about his life. I mean, how <i>inspiring.</i><br />
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But perhaps my favourite spirit-lifting moment this year was Muhammad Ali's memorial service, which took humour and sadness and weaved them together into a magnificent lesson in how to live -- not a great life -- but a good one. Ali lived both. But it was goodness he advocated. It was goodness that filled that interfaith memorial service in Louisville, Kentucky on June 10th.<br />
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Here in our little household, 2016 was a full year. Work was relentless but rewarding, with work trips and garden shoots in the Caribbean, New York, Connecticut, Nantucket, Provence, Paris, Italy, and the Cotswolds and Dorset. Many of these beautiful places, spaces and gardens (above) can be seen on my Instagram: <b><a href="http://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author</a>. </b>But most of the time, I didn't post a lot: I just put my head down and got on with the job.<br />
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As well as work, there were quiet side trips and gentle stopovers, including a visit to Jim Thompson's house in Bangkok: a deeply moving place that's memorable as much for its architecture and garden as its history and mystery.<br />
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For the most part, we lived a low-key existence. As the years go on and people become angrier and more critical and the world becomes more unstable, it feels like the right path to take. Perhaps George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley had the smart approach, after all? Perhaps what 2016 taught us is that when the going gets tough, the tough put their heads and work on, head against the wind; quietly; calmly; with not only a sense of humour but a sense of dignity.<br />
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Here's to 2017. May it bring you all joyous things.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2017</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BALENCIAGA AT THE V&A MUSEUM, LONDON</b></span></div>
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The major exhibition at <b>London's V&A Museum </b>during 2017 will focus on the life and work of Spanish fashion house <b>Balenciaga</b>, which is marking its 100th anniversary this year. Called 'Shaping Fashion', the show will shine the light on this master couturier, who is often called a 'designer's designer' because he was famous for his tailoring skills. He preferred to work with firm, stiff fabrics which gave his clothing a sculptural appearance, hence the name of the show. The V&A has brought together 100 garments and 20 hats, along with sketches, photographs and fabric samples to show not only his craftsmanship and skill but also how his work changed the shape of fashion forever. The exhibition is timely – under the new creative director of head designer Demna Gvasalia, Balenciaga has taken a radical new direction.<br />
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<i>Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion will be on show at the V&A, London May 27th 2017 – February 18th 2018.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">DIOR EXHIBITIONS IN PARIS AND MELBOURNE</span></b></div>
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As the <b>House of Dior </b>continues its seventy-year celebrations, there are plans for two impressive <b>Dior exhibitions </b>in<b> Paris and Melbourne </b>this year. <b>Christian Dior at Musée des Arts Décoratifs </b> in Paris will run from July 6, 2017 until January 7, 2018, and will focus on the couturier's life and designs, while in Melbourne, Australia, the <b>National Gallery of Victoria will host 'The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture',</b> a sumptuous display of more than 140 garments designed by Christian Dior Couture between 1947 and 2017. The latter exhibition will also feature works by the seven designers who have played key roles in shaping Dior’s renowned fashionable silhouette: Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Highlights include examples from Christian Dior’s iconic spring 1947 New Look collection, magnificent displays of Dior’s signature ball gowns and evening dresses, as well as designs from the inaugural couture collection of the House’s first female head designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri. It will be the first complete Dior collection to be shown outside of Paris, and reflects Melbourne's love of fashion and glamour.</div>
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Little news yet on the <b>Christian Dior exhibition at Musée des Arts Décoratifs in July</b>, but no doubt details will begin to emerge in the fashion media soon.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">[All images from House of Dior's website]</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A WHITE GARDEN IN KENSINGTON GARDENS, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">IN FLORAL TRIBUTE TO DIANA</span></b></div>
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Opening in spring 2017, <b>'The White Garden' </b>will be a floral tribute to Princess Diana that will be planted in the <b>Sunken Garden in Kensington Gardens. </b>It has been designed to celebrate her legacy of style, which is also being showcased in Kensington Palace’s new fashion exhibition, <b>‘Diana: Her Fashion Story’ </b>in 2017. The garden will be planted with an elegant palette of spring tulips and scented narcissi, which will emerge through a carpet of forget me nots. The planting scheme will then change in summer to pots of classic English white roses and cosmos, which will surround the reflective pool in the centre of the garden.<br />
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Due to open in April, 2017.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">RESTORATION HARDWARE'S FIRST HOTEL</span></b></div>
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If you're a fan of the <b>Restoration Hardware</b> look, and there are thousands who are, you'll be pleased to know the company is opening its<b> first hotel</b>, in New York City’s meatpacking district. Located at 55 Gansevoort Street, which is right around the corner from RH's flagship store, it will reportedly double as a showroom for the brand. There are also plans for a ground-floor restaurant.<br />
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More details can be found<b><u> <a href="http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20150803/REAL_ESTATE/150809987/restoration-hardware-to-open-hotel-around-the-corner-from-its-upcoming-flagship-store" target="_blank">here</a>.</u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">GARDENS AND ART IN PARIS</span></b></div>
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There are several <b>garden-themed exhibitions being staged in Paris</b> this year. From 15 March, the <b>Jardins exhibition at the Grand Palais</b> offers a sweeping overview of landscape painting from the Renaissance to our day, with works by Monet, Cézanne, Picasso, Magritte and others. The <b>Musée d’Orsay </b>is also hosting a nature-themed exhibition in 2017, with paintings by Gauguin, Denis, Klimt, Munch and Van Gogh. Until 24 April, the <b>Pompidou Centre </b>is hosting a retrospective of <b>Cy Twombly</b>, which will feature explosions of colour, tangled skeins and scribblings and scratched-out lines – all of which is said to "reflect a rich interior landscape". And in April, the <b>Musée de la Vie Romantique </b>will turn into an exquisite garden filled with lovely colours for an exhibition on <b>Pierre-Joseph Redout</b>, one of the most renowned botanical artist of all time. It’s an opportunity to admire the delicate watercolours painted by the man who was once described as ‘the Raphael of flowers’.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE NEW FLORAL FASHION FOR DAHLIAS</span></b></div>
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Dahlias were big this year. <i>Huge. </i>In every respect. They crowded the pages of garden magazines, and grew to the size of dinner platters.<br />
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This was the <b>Dorset garden of English architect Ben Pentreath </b>and his lovely husband <b>Charlie,</b> which I shot in late September, just as the dahlias beds were reaching their full height. Charlie told me his favourite was the Cafe au Lait, but I think I loved the apricot borders better.<br />
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One thing's for sure: dahlias are not going away any time soon. Once you see them dancing in the late summer breeze, you'll want to replant your own garden with blousy, cheery blooms.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE NEW TREND FOR GARDEN-THEMED HOTELS</span></b></div>
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One of the most delightful places I had the pleasure of visiting for work this year was<b> Playa Grande</b>, in the <b>Dominican Republic.</b> (Some of you may have already seen these images on Instagram.) Conceived by New York interior designer Celerie Kemble, it's an enclave of beach houses where almost everything is <b>designed as a nod to Mother Nature.</b> So the four-poster beds are filled with twisting vines, the lights and lanterns look like palm trees, many of the prints are botanicals, and even the pool house lights look like tropical 'pods'. It's beautiful and memorable, and it's not surprising that it has inspired other hotels to incorporate more horticulture into their designs.<br />
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Another 'garden-enhanced hotel' that I visited this year was the newly renovated <b>Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, </b>where the Ambassador Suite (above right) even comes with its own private conservatory overlooking the gardens and river. If you can't afford a suite here, you can still enjoy the hotel's legendary interiors with a drink or afternoon tea in the <b>Author's Lounge </b>(above left),<b> </b>one of the most photogenic bars in the world. Designed with more lattice trims that Versailles, and more wicker furniture and whimsy than Bunny Mellon's garden room, it's an elegant space to lose an afternoon. (I found a quiet corner and caught up on work here: it was a beautiful 'office' that made me wish mine looked just as lovely.)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE REMAKING OF PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK</span></b></div>
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Some of you may know that I've spent five years working on a <b>biography of the Australian author Joan Lindsay,</b> who wrote the international bestseller <b><i>Picnic at Hanging Rock.</i></b> The biography went to print a few weeks ago, and will be published on <b>April 1</b>, in time for the 50th anniversary of the novel.<br />
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Media for this biography has already begun, with a lovely mention in yesterday's <i><b>Age</b></i> and <i><b>Sydney Morning Herald </b></i>broadsheet newspapers, in a list of <b>Books to Read in 2017 </b><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/what-the-year-ahead-holds-for-readers-20161221-gtg24z.html" target="_blank">LINK HERE</a> for the <i><b>Sydney Morning Herald,</b></i> or <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/what-the-year-ahead-holds-for-readers-20161221-gtg24z.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> for <b style="font-style: italic;">The Age. </b><br />
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There were so many great books on this list, including a new biography on Helen Garner, so I'm thrilled and honoured to be featured. And I'm so grateful to my publisher, Kay Scarlett (whom I knew at Murdoch Books), and my editor Julia Taylor, who took a battered old biography of a long-forgotten author and turned it into a beautifully designed and (hopefully) interesting story of a 50-year-old novel that many of us have never forgotten...<br />
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<i>(The beautiful image above, of Anne Louise Lambert on set, was a polaroid taken by Joan Lindsay and comes from Joan Lindsay's archives. It appears in the biography along with dozens of other images from the film and Joan Lindsay's life. It was my favourite photo in the book.)</i><br />
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Recently, Fremantle Media announced that they are planning to remake<i> Picnic at Hanging Rock </i>for television in 2017, with a 6 x 60 minute drama that will, unlike the original film by Peter Weir, delve deep into the themes of gender, control, identity and burgeoning sexuality.<br />
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It will be interesting to see how Fremantle's version differs from the original, which was a worldwide success, but I applaud the company's efforts to retell this haunting mystery for a modern audience. <i>Picnic at Hanging Rock </i>deserves to be celebrated, as does its author Joan Lindsay, and I hope 2017 is the year in which fans, old and new, rediscover this beautiful tale of schoolgirls on a summer's day.<br />
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<br />Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-28521391469410301442016-11-20T20:25:00.003-08:002016-11-23T22:57:42.058-08:00Thin Places: The Gardens, Spaces, Books, and Beliefs that Take Us Places<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week, I learned a beautiful new phrase. While chatting to a publisher friend called Joe about the horrors of politics, we somehow segued (thankfully) to something else entirely: the calming nature of the Italy countryside. "Italy is a place," said Joe, "where you can escape the nastiness of life, and experience sights so magnificent they remove you from the everyday." These Italian scenes are often transcendent, explained Joe. Otherworldly, even. They <i>transport </i>you.<br />
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Then he told me about a phrase that's used to describe these curiously moving spaces and landscapes; these places that take you away from mundanities and disenchantments of everyday.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/travel/thin-places-where-we-are-jolted-out-of-old-ways-of-seeing-the-world.html" target="_blank">THIN PLACES.</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/22/this-column-change-your-life-heaven-earth" target="_blank"><b>Thin Places</b></a>, explained Joe, was an old Celtic term used to describe those spots where the walls between reality and beyond, or between Heaven and Earth if you like, are almost transparent. Places where you're immediately inspired, and beguiled, and often moved to emotion.<br />
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A thin space could be as ordinary as someone's garden (<i>see above; story to come),</i> or as sacred as Rumi's tomb in Turkey. (Rumi and his Persian poetry have become popular since singer Chris Martin credited them for saving him from depression.)<br />
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Thin Places usually happen when you least expect them -- often when you're travelling. They suddenly appear before you, beautiful and fleeting. They remove you from whatever you might be enduring in life, and remind you that there are better things, both on this side and the other.<br />
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A well-travelled friend calls this experience <i>jouissance</i>; a transcendent state that fuses the emotional, physical, and mystical. She says it often happens when she's in a garden -- be it Sissinghurst or the shores of Lake Como.</div>
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I experienced a Thin Place last week.<br />
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It was 5.30AM and I was driving to a photo shoot at a garden called <b>Picardy,</b> located in the green hills of Gippsland, where I grew up. I thought I knew this area but on this morning the landscape looked different. A strange layer of mist had settled over the hills, giving the place an ethereal feel. As I drove through the quiet backroads, the hot sun started to burn away the light fog, leaving patches of 'clouds' in its wake.<br />
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Arriving at Picardy Garden a few minutes before sunrise, I noticed the mist hadn't yet lifted on this hill, and there was a curious glow to the garden. The light was golden, almost otherworldly.<br />
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The owners, Marian and Bryce (now new friends) came out to greet me, but I was too enthralled to come inside for a cup of tea. It was as if Heaven had come down the Earth for a few moments. The light, the landscape, the flowers, the birdsong and butterflies and crabapples. It was pure felicity.<br />
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These snatches of pleasure in life are what sustain many of us, alongside family, friends, work, and other quiet delights. In a month when the nastiness that has seeped into society has affected us all, when people are forgetting their good, kind sides and blindly subscribing to the foulness, and then being malicious and mean and downright undignified with their newfound ill will, Thin Spaces take us out of all the dirtiness and drama.<br />
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Thin Spaces transport us to a better plane -- "going high", as Michelle Obama famously quoted. They enable us to see the joyfulness of life, rather than the hatred. The radiance and grace of places, and people, rather than the dark side.<br />
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Like many friends, including Joe, I have stopped subscribing to nastiness. We all have enough to contend with in life. And you can't work professionally, especially in an international arena, if you practice such manners. (Some of those I've liaised with this year, such as Carolyne Roehm and Paolo Moschino and Robert Couturier, have reminded me just how far good manners and kindness will go in life.)<br />
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As Joe said, we need to seek the delights of life -- in places and in people. Even if we don't like a place (I had mixed feelings about Gippsland for decades), or we're not sure about a person, reserving judgement and holding back on criticism may reward us with a sublime surprise. Gippsland's quiet beauty certainly surprised me last week.<br />
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(Loved the dovecote potting shed.)</div>
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The most amazing thing about this day, and this garden, was seeing this: a rare kind of Robinia that looks identical to pink wisteria. Many gardeners feel this Robinia is the most beautiful tree in the world, and indeed it's accorded that award in many horticultural lists. I've been searching for it for years, without success. </div>
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As Marian and I turned a corner at the bottom of the crabapple walk, we paused in our chatter and I happen to look up, to the sky above. There it was. Dangling quietly above us.</div>
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Marian is currently working on a book about her beautiful French / Italian-inspired garden, so there will be more images down the track. </div>
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In the meantime, here are some more books and beautiful landscapes to lift the spirit at this tail end of a very long year.</div>
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<b><i>NB: Articles about Thin Spaces can be found here</i></b> <b>-- <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/travel/thin-places-where-we-are-jolted-out-of-old-ways-of-seeing-the-world.html" target="_blank">NEW YORK TIMES</a> or here <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/22/this-column-change-your-life-heaven-earth" target="_blank">THE GUARDIAN</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BEAUTIFUL DESIGN BOOKS FOR YOUR WISH LIST</span></b></div>
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Amazon has just delivered a box of gorgeous books to our doorstep in time for Christmas. Some are for us; some are for friends. These were a few stand-outs in the pile. </div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Mad Enchantment </i>. The story of Claude Monet and the painting of the Water Lilies series. An uplifting account of how painting and gardening save this great artist's spirit at the end of his life, as the war encroached on his bucolic corner of France.</div>
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<b><i>On The Fringe: A Life in Decorating</i></b>. A fascinating insight into Colefax and Fowler by the decorating company's glamorous doyenne, Imogen Taylor.</div>
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<i><b>The Country House in Literature.</b></i> A little academic, but good to dip in and out of.</div>
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<b><i>Landscape of Dreams.</i></b> The first monograph from Julian and Isabel Bannerman, the Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin of garden designers.</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Signature Spaces: Well-Travelled Spaces</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen.</span><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><i>(last pix, above)</i><i style="font-weight: bold;">.</i> I had the great pleasure and honor of having lunch with these two lovely gentlemen in their country house in Sussex this year, so this book is a little special. If you've followed Paolo since his days with Nicky Haslam, you'll know he's an extraordinarily talented interior designer, but it's his partner in business and life, Philio Vergeylen, who's the real surprise -- funny, kind, stylish and talented at everything from gardening to storytelling. A great book for design fans.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">FASCINATING FASHION BOOKS</span></b></div>
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If you or someone you know loves fashion, these are two sure winners for Christmas gifts. </div>
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<b>Alexander McQueen's<i> Unseen</i></b> is a behind-the-scenes look at the designer's remarkable fashion collections and catwalk shows. </div>
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And <b>Alexandra Schulman's<i> Inside Vogue</i></b> is a diary-style account of working behind the editor's desk of UK <i>Vogue</i>, including the enormous cover-up she had to do to keep the cover of the Duchess of Cambridge a guarded secret.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE BEST LIBRARIES IN VOGUE</span></b></div>
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A recent slideshow of some of <i>Vogue's </i>most memorable libraries over the years.</div>
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<b>Link here -- </b><a href="http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/13414411/libraries-rooms-vogue-photographs/#22" target="_blank">VOGUE LIBRARIES</a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BEYOND THE ROCK: THE LIFE OF JOAN LINDSAY </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">AND THE MYSTERY OF PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK</span></b></div>
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Finally, friends and long-time readers know that I've been working quietly on this biography for many years. I've not mentioned it much because there was a change of publishers (in an unconventional move, I decided to return to my beloved publisher at Murdoch, Kay Scarlett, who's now with Bonnier International). Since the change, in May, there have been months of refinements, particularly in the content but also in the design, which is now <i>beautiful!</i></div>
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The story of Joan Lindsay's life and how she came to write her famous bestseller <i><b>Picnic at Hanging Rock</b></i> at sixty-nine years of age is a complex story, and we took a great deal of time working out what to include and what to (respectfully) leave out. We also consulted people like director Peter Weir and others who knew Joan Lindsay personally, and they kindly gave their input. </div>
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Now, after five long years of research, and almost a year of production, the biography has gone to print TODAY. (I can't even believe I'm writing that.) Advance copies are due to arrive January, and the pub date is 1st April, so I will post details on this blog and Instagram as well as to all those in my email database. We are also working in marketing, including a doco-ette and a book tour; details of which are to come. </div>
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The biography will soon show up on Amazon and other book sites, so keep an eye out.</div>
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<b><i>Beyond the Rock </i></b> is a curious book, which falls somewhere between biography and true crime (hence the title), but Joan Lindsay's life was also curious; curious and mysterious and often remarkable. So I hope you all love reading about it as much as I loved researching and writing it. </div>
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<i><b>Picnic at Hanging Rock</b></i> is a novel version of a Thin Space, and as far as I can tell, Joan certainly intended that. It's beautiful, mysterious, memorable, and utterly otherworldly. Fifty years after it was first published, it still <i>transports</i> us. </div>
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If only politics did that.</div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-2043300395749588492016-09-28T22:05:00.002-07:002016-10-04T11:58:38.916-07:00Finding Inspiration from Grand Travels and Quiet Corners<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfZ3xe_9lIcpbPcFvVfB7KqL55CXEsFd__FdhbiJxcxZBrdi7la1Epehl0sLOzMb2ys8Ymy6YWi4xFKUubqCDqEMmVuUnHOnWa3cgNpWV5SvzHQORBxydfmo5w1lgaaxoEIU6ZBLnnWk/s1600/DOminican_JanelleMcCulloch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfZ3xe_9lIcpbPcFvVfB7KqL55CXEsFd__FdhbiJxcxZBrdi7la1Epehl0sLOzMb2ys8Ymy6YWi4xFKUubqCDqEMmVuUnHOnWa3cgNpWV5SvzHQORBxydfmo5w1lgaaxoEIU6ZBLnnWk/s640/DOminican_JanelleMcCulloch1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A few weeks ago, I went to the <b>Dominican Republic</b> for three days, to look at some gardens for a new book. It was my first time to DR. This is what happened.<br />
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The tiny<b> Puerto Plata Airport </b>on the north coast of DR was barely more than a cheery steel band bashing out a welcoming tune, a relaxed chap holding his hand out for $10 for a visa, and a gaggle of grinning Immigration men hanging around the luggage carousel. With no checked luggage, I was off the plane and into sunshine in 8 minutes. <i>(If only Heathrow was like that.) </i>Then it was a two-hour drive down a coastal road so quiet that often the only 'traffic' was a herd of cattle and some carefree chickens. A few hours down the coast, my driver and I finally landed here, at <b>Playa Grande;</b> one of the most beautiful, most extraordinary places I've ever been. It was, quite simply, astonishing. Let me show you.</div>
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Conceived by New York designer <b>Celerie Kemble</b>, <b>Playa Grande</b> is a remarkable place -- more of a private estate than a resort -- which is made up of collection of exquisitely designed beach houses that are so sweet, so irresistible, it's as if Tim Burton had gotten together with Karl Lagerfeld to create a Chanel show for the Caribbean. It's also so well hidden that not even the chap next door, whom we asked for directions, knew it was there. I mean, how often do you find a place like that? Where even its neighbours don't know it's there?</div>
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Now the architecture here is eye catching, but it's the interiors where the exclamations really begin. Everything at Playa Grande is <b>inspired by gardens and botanical motifs</b>, so lights are shaped like palm leaves, lanterns look like exotic tropical pods, and even the smallest light switches resemble sweet lily-of-the-valley bouquets and new spring buds. Most were made by a local metalworker, and most are done in <b>copper,</b> so that when they age and patina turns to green, they'll look even more like leaves. It's ingenious.</div>
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There was also, surprisingly, a lot of timber, which must mean a lot of maintenance given the tropical weather. Even the table 'tassels' were done in timber. Like so:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRe-46zy1IrHtod95XuW4PHolM-SwjgpX52OYpTWPtlRoYuoAoL3vZKpWiOaSHhQ2KI8Z4vvY5zsBqOyDi3E_9syhNkvW6UhaydibvHp6QYnALeyMj0W9e9kFgTu7_R42U6-LRst_C5Bo/s1600/JanelleMcCulloch_PlayaGrande3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRe-46zy1IrHtod95XuW4PHolM-SwjgpX52OYpTWPtlRoYuoAoL3vZKpWiOaSHhQ2KI8Z4vvY5zsBqOyDi3E_9syhNkvW6UhaydibvHp6QYnALeyMj0W9e9kFgTu7_R42U6-LRst_C5Bo/s640/JanelleMcCulloch_PlayaGrande3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another interesting aspect to the estate was that the gardens were allowed to grow wild in some places, particularly over the verandahs, leading to a kind of 'lost in time' feel that didn't feel messy or unkempt but fantastically, memorably romantic.</div>
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The second destination was older but no less beautiful; a small hideaway called the <b>Casa Colonial,</b> which was in fact an ode to the grand, colonial hotels of yesteryear. With acres of white louvres and ceiling fans inside and gardens full of tropical palms and foliage outside, it was a dream of a place, and even though I was the only guest there by the end -- hurricane season had emptied the rooms -- it still felt cosy and intimate and elegant and welcoming. </div>
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There were other places on The Reccy List too, but after three days in the Caribbean heat, travelling on remote roads, with few tourists around, and no G&Ts (I never drink while working, and even while not working, but the tropics makes you long for it), I was well and truly ready for something stiff in a tall glass.</div>
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So I packed up, took one last look at the beautiful beaches, and boarded the plane back to New York.</div>
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Back in Manhattan, the heat was like nothing I've experienced in that city; raw and angry and full of honking horns and irritated people and on-edge traffic. (The queues to get up to Connecticut one weekend were <i>insane!) </i> But there was one place where calm and civility reigned; <b>The Beekman,</b> an amazing new hotel carved out of an equally amazing historic building in the previously-dull-but-now-buzzing district of <b>FiDi.</b> (<b><i>Vogue</i></b> has also moved into this area, as has Cos, so you know it's officially cool.) </div>
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The opening of <b>The Beekman Hotel</b> is one of the year's most anticipated New York hotel unveilings. Its amazing, semi-derelict, nine-story atrium was for years used in fashion shoots and parties (Jay Z had a brill soiree here) until Thomson Hotels swept in and restored it. There are some beautiful images <b><a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/8/23/12612750/beekman-hotel-interiors-opening-nyc" target="_blank">here</a>.</b> The rooms are expensive (and not particularly sexy), but the restaurant by Keith McNally is beautiful, so just go for dinner and enjoy the interior. </div>
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From there, it was off to the cool, green countryside of <b>Sussex in England</b>, and what a welcome change it was. There were a few garden shoots to look at here too, including one at one of the most beautiful gardens I've ever seen; a gentle, enveloping embrace of a place that reminded me why I loved gardens so much. And how lucky I am to do the job I do.</div>
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Owned by two of the kindest, loveliest, funniest, and most gracious men I've ever met, <b>Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen</b> (for those who don't know them, they are the design talents who bought Nicholas Haslam's legendary store / business in Pimlico and made it into their own, and now do the interior design for dozens of extraordinary estates over the world), this country retreat is the kind you always hope to own one day. It's a perfect blend of country house and garden, where both merge into the other in such a way that you're constantly wandering from room to terrace to greenhouse to courtyard to parterre to pool and back to the library and parlour / sitting room again in a happy daze. Look at the blue-and-white library. And this comforting guest room. </div>
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We had a long and memorable luncheon here on the terrace, which lasted for far too many glasses of wine. Paolo and Philip told a very funny (but still respectful) story of how Princess Diana visited one summer's day, which made me laugh until I had a stitch. As they chatted, I was reminded of how nice some people are. Here were two men who have met just about everyone I idolise (they even stay in Oscar de la Renta's old estate in the Dominican Republic), and who didn't need to spend time with a stranger from Australia (who was weary beyond belief and trying desperately to remember her social skills through the haze of jet lag) and yet they did -- and they made it an afternoon to remember. Courtesy and chivalry are not dead, after all.</div>
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There were a few more gardens, such as this dahlia-drenched one in Dorset... </div>
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And this gorgeous castle and its grand farmyard and kitchen garden in Oxfordshire... (I loved the onion drying rack the best). </div>
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But that's enough stories for one blog post, I think</div>
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I'm home now for a little while -- and how happy I am too, after three round-the-world trips in three months! There are books to be written, edited, expedited through the production process. But there are also beautiful ones to be ordered for Christmas. (Have you seen all the lovely new titles out there?) As well, the new fashion collections for <b>Spring / Summer 2017 </b>are appearing in the media, and they're heralding a glamorous new year. Just look at <b>Jasper Conran's designs</b>, above and below. Thank goodness glamour is still in fashion.</div>
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Until next time, happy travels, happy reading, happy frock shopping, and happy gardening, wherever you are.</div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-38471552699335413292016-08-10T04:48:00.005-07:002016-08-22T05:31:42.774-07:00LONDON SECRETS: A new book for architecture, design, fashion and garden fans<br />
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I'm delighted to write that my new book <b>LONDON SECRETS: STYLE, DESIGN, GLAMOUR, GARDENS</b> <b>(Images Publishing) </b>is being prepared for a publication date that's not far off. One of the loveliest books I've ever had the pleasure of producing, shooting and writing, <b>LONDON SECRETS </b>attempts to uncover many of the <b>city's most fascinating design destinations,</b> from hidden streets full of extraordinary architecture to memorable National Trust properties, beautiful historic houses, fantastic design-focused museums, glorious gardens, glamorous hotels, wonderful stores selling everything from textiles to antiques to vintage fashion, and intriguing restaurants and bistros.<br />
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I lived in London for many years in the 1990s, and still return (with a sentimentalist's heart) several times a year for work. And each time I arrive here, I relish the chance to wander down the cobbled mews and quiet side streets to discover the city's urban treasures. In fact, no matter how many times I visit, the place continues to surprise and delight. I hope this book offers some great ideas for your next trip, whether you're an architecture aficionado, a design fan, or simply a lover of gardens, textiles, fashion and style.<br />
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<i>(Note: One of my fellow authors, Driss Fatih, has also done a London book, so check the author on the cover if you want my book, as there's a little confusion. Driss' book will focus more on architecture and restaurants, while mine covers fashion and style, bookstores and gardens, historic houses, and other glamorous things.)</i><br />
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<b>LONDON SECRETS is due out soon (date TBC), so do look for it in bookshops and online,</b> but in the meantime, here are a few places worth noting:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">SOANE BRITAIN</span></b></div>
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<b>Soane Britain in Pimlico </b>(which is different to the similar-sounding Soane Museum) is a wondrous aladdin's cave of rattan and wicker, fabric and textiles, prints and lamps, and all kinds of furniture, from elegant desks to cheerily chic side tables. But it's far more than just a store of sophisticated, irresistible homewares. Co-founder and creative director Lulu Lyle set out to save many dying British crafts by either buying factories, such as the last rattan manufacturer left in England, or employing British craftspeople to create special goods using skills that go back to the 18th century and beyond. Fabrics are woven in Suffolk and printed in Kent, while furniture is made by blacksmiths, carpenters, upholsterers and gilders in the far corners of England. Even the wallpapers are hand-blocked by expert English printers. But it's perhaps the traditional crafts, such as iron forging and leatherwork, where you can really see the skills being utilized in modern forms. Lulu commissions unusual leather desks, ornate iron lighting and other unique pieces to reinvent these materials for contemporary living. Alternatively, clients can chose their own materials and finishes from Soane’s in-house collection of timbers, metals, textiles and leathers, using Soane's furniture styles or their own designs.</div>
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There's a lovely article on Lulu's own London home here, which is a carnival of colour -- <a href="http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/luxury/interiors/at-home-with-soane-britain-founder-lulu-lytle-a-global-treasure-trove-of-textiles-paintings-maps-and-a100921.html#gallery" target="_blank"><b>LINK HERE</b></a> </div>
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Or you can browse the website here -- <b><a href="http://www.soane.co.uk/" target="_blank">SOANE BRITAIN</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">SECRET SUITES AND TOWNHOUSES</span></b></div>
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Many people already know about <b>Firmdale Hotels </b>and their wonderful London hideaways, including <b>Number Sixteen</b> and the much-talked-about <b>Ham Yard</b>. But what isn't as well known are their <b>impeccably decorated</b> <b>suites and townhouses,</b> which not only accommodate a family or group of friends, but offer interior design that is even more glamorous than the famously sophisticated 'standard' rooms. The <b>Covent Garden's suite </b><i>(above, with whimsical watering cans)</i>, and the <b>Haymarket Hotel's townhouse </b>(top) are two of the most beautifully designed hotel rooms in London and they're ideal if you need to spread out (such as for a company presentation) or require a kitchen for a long stay. Many fashion companies book the Covent Garden Hotel's suites to do presentations, and then stay the night. Not a bad 'office' to be in for your London stay.</div>
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<b>More details may be found here -- <a href="http://www.firmdalehotels.com/" target="_blank">FIRMDALE HOTELS</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A HIDDEN HOTEL FOR SMALL GROUPS</span></b></div>
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If you're after a hotel that offers stunning spaces for small groups to have get-togethers, cocktails or other functions while in London, some of the prettiest are those rooms offered by <b>The Pelham Hotel in South Kensington. The Pelham </b>was actually one of Kit Kemp's (Firmdale Hotel's creative director) first hotel designs, and still reflects her attention to detail in textiles, furniture, antiques and bold patterns and print. The Pelham is perhaps my favorite hotel in London and not just because it posts the fabrics and trims in framed mood boards outside many of the rooms. Its front desk is a welcoming dream of a space, its parlour and honesty bar a relief after a long day of walking the streets for work meetings, and its rooms are quiet havens of luxury for very little money. Best of all, it's right opposite the South Kensington Station, so you can jump straight on a tube in less than five minutes! Look for the understated facade; it's difficult to see because it's so discreet.<br />
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<b>Details here -- <a href="http://www.pelhamhotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">THE PELHAM</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">FLORISTS AND FLOWER CLASSES</span></b></div>
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<b><i>New York Times' T </i>magazine </b>recently published a superb story on <b>Rebecca Louise Law's 'flower studio' in London;</b> a romantic, poetic, flower-and-book-strewn space where she creates her famous flower installations. <span style="font-family: inherit;">( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2015/10/07/t-magazine/inside-rebecca-louise-laws-studio/s/07tmag-rebecca-ss-slide-GKRP.html?action=click&contentCollection=T+Magazine&module=RelatedSlideShow&pgtype=imageslideshow&version=EndSlate" target="_blank">Louise Law</a>) </span>But London is home to a scented plethora of petalled florists, many of whom offer superb classes in everything from flower arranging to event styling. <b>Judith Blacklock</b> is one such florist. Her classes are held in a pretty building in Knightsbridge, but it's her tours of the <b>New Covent Garden Market </b>that you should aim to get a place on. The day begins at 8AM with a long wander around the various traders of the famous flower market, and continues with breakfast and a flower workshop back at the store.<br />
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<b>Petersham Nurseries </b>has also started to offer wonderful horticulture courses, with the Scented Gardens being one of the most popular. And in the <b>West End, the Covent Garden Academy</b> <b>of Flowers </b>offers all manner of floral classes in an airy, light, easy-to-reach boutique that's brimming with glorious blooms.<br />
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<b>LINKS HERE -- <a href="http://www.judithblacklock.com/" target="_blank">Judith Blacklock</a> or <a href="https://petershamnurseries.com/" target="_blank">Petersham Nurseries</a> or <a href="http://www.academyofflowers.com/" target="_blank">Academy of Flowers</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">RUSTIC RESTAURANTS FOR GARDEN LOVERS</span></b></div>
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London is dotted with gardens and parks, but few visitors realize there are also dozens of restaurants, bistros and pubs that are designed for fans of horticulture and greenery. <b>Maggie Jones in Kensington </b>is a lovely little place relished by locals for its cosy, romantic atmosphere as much as its baskets of flowers (dried and fresh). The place is designed to feel like a rustic barn, complete with faux beehive, but the food is anything but rough. Farmhouse-inspired, yes, but it's still delicious and beautifully prepared. <b>( 6 Old Court Place, London, Kensington, maggie-jones.co.uk) </b><br />
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<b>The Ivy in Chelsea </b>is another that's pulling in the green-thumbed crowd. Athough it's more sophisticated than Maggie Jones, it's no less charming, with menus designed to look like garden plans and a courtyard full of wicker chairs. The interior, meanwhile, is punctuated with botanical prints, and the colour palette is a summery combination of tangerine and green. (<b>195 King's Road, Chelsea, www.theivychelseagarden.com </b>) <br />
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Finally, <b>Bourne & Hollingsworth </b>has been popping up on blogs and Insta posts for a year or two now, but it's still sweet, especially the petite conservatory full of ferns and floral armchairs. <b>(42 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell, www.bandhbuildings.com)</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW MUSEUMS TO ANTICIPATE</span></b></div>
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London will see some stunning new museums opening in the next few years. The <b>Museum of London </b>is one, with a spectacular design for the museum's new location that features a monumental domed atrium, spiral escalators, and a sunken garden. But the two that will really prompt designers and decorators to queue are <b>Sandycombe Lodge and Sir John Soane's home,</b> both of which are currently being restored to their former glory.<br />
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<b>Sandycombe Lodge </b>is the home of the celebrated painter <b>JMW Turner,</b> and was, in its time, a blissful hideaway hidden away in the bucolic setting of Twickenham, where the wealthy were building grand homes amid the pastoral scenery. Twickenham was “a place of experimentation” for Turner; somewhere he could escape his life in London to paint in peace. Turner’s father, a retired barber who was also his son's studio assistant, also lived at <b>Sandycombe Lodge</b>, and made the 10-mile commute to London daily to open his son’s gallery, initially by foot, then by hitching a lift on a vegetable cart in exchange for a glass of gin. (!) The house is a small gem that recalls the 19th century in much the same way as the London-home-turned-museum of the architect John Soane does. Soane was a friend of Turner, and visited him often, so it is fitting that <b>Soane's own rural home nearby, Pitzhanger Manor, </b> is also being restored. An illustration for the restoration of Pitzhanger Manor is above, but work has started on the building and all its glorious interior. The bold paintwork is especially beautiful, so particular attention is being paid to the walls, ceilings and frescoes.<br />
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Details on the restoration of <b>Turner's house</b> can be found <b><a href="http://www.turnerintwickenham.org.uk/" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>And details of <b>Pitzhanger Manor </b>can be found <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitzhanger_Manor" target="_blank">HERE</a> .</b><br />
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-46489761888103101252016-08-02T11:29:00.001-07:002016-08-02T20:29:46.722-07:00Books, Gardens and other Quiet Delights<br />
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Having just come off the back of a year of intense writing for not one but three huge book projects, I have been spending a few quiet July days in our small garden before the next lot of publishing deadlines and work trips. Like my mother -- who has just returned from seeing some extraordinary gardens and landscapes in Alaska and Vancouver -- I'm always grateful for the chance to be in a garden. I always think that gardening is underestimated as therapy: it's not only beneficial for the weary mind and body but it can also inspire and energise the creative spirit. Out among the new seedlings and parrot tulips, I've been working on lots of new ideas for 2017; some of which -- like my clematis -- may never flower! But hopefully a few of them will bloom. That's the thing with both gardening and life. You never know what's going to emerge in the future...</div>
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And so here, in tribute of the northern hemisphere summer and the southern hemisphere spring, is a small ode to the quiet delights of horticulture.</div>
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<b>As always, feel free to follow on Instagram here -- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author/?hl=en" target="_blank">LINK</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE SECRET DELIGHTS OF SEEND MANOR</span></b></div>
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One of the most beautiful gardens in England is the wonderfully named <b>Seend Manor in Wiltshire.</b> I was alerted to this beautiful English estate by a friend, and immediately told a few other garden-loving friends about it, one of which replied straight away to tell me that she knew the owners. (Such is the world of social media!) Apparently Seend Manor's owners are just as charming and gracious as their glorious flower beds. ( If you don't yet follow <b>Amanda Seend</b> on <b>Instagram</b>, her link is here -- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amandaseend/" target="_blank"><b>Amanda Seend</b></a> ) </div>
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The garden is open to the public once a year, but designer Amanda Bunt has written a moving post to its many horticultural secrets here -- <b><a href="http://www.angelabuntcreative.com/flairfairy/2016/6/18/how-many-kinds-of-sweet-flowers-grow-in-an-english-country-garden" target="_blank">Seend Manor</a> </b>I love the fact that it moved Amanda to tears. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A CONVERTED GARDEN SHED</span></b></div>
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Some of you may have seen this gorgeous garden room in the May issue of <b><i>British House and Garden </i></b>magazine, but if you missed it, here's the link -- <a href="http://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/interiors/real-homes/emma-burns-barn-conversion-guest-annex-library" target="_blank"><b>Emma Burns Garden Library</b></a> Emma Burns is the senior decorator at <b>Colefax & Fowler, </b>but it seems her talents extend to architecture and landscaping, too, if this remarkable garden shed is anything to go by. Formerly a rustic barn used to house garden tools, it was converted to a garden library-cum-guest-cottage that's also filled with Emma's precious collection of books. One part of it is a mezzanine work area; another an indulgent bathroom. But the most beautiful part is undoubtedly the library, which extends along an entire wall. As Emma explains: 'It used to be a glorified garden shed, and though it seemed daft to have so much space and not do anything with it, we couldn't decide what. Then we moved from our old house in London into a much smaller one and ended up with all these books sitting in storage, so we decided to make it into a book room.' </div>
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It's so lovely that it's a wonder Emma's guests ever leave. Link is here -- <b><a href="http://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/interiors/real-homes/emma-burns-barn-conversion-guest-annex-library" target="_blank">Emma Burns' Garden Library</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> A GARDEN HOUSE TO BUY</span></b></div>
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We are constantly looking for the next property to buy and restore or renovate. <i>(Well, I am; my partner just rolls his eyes now, especially when I present him with run-down estates with overgrown gardens and neglected architecture that would take a bulldozer to fix.) </i>While our future home remains a question mark (we may have to move into our tiny investment property on St Kilda Road, after all!), someone will be assured of a extraordinary life with this<b> historic 1854 house and garden called 'Wickham'</b>, currently for sale here -- <b><a href="http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-harkaway-121921426" target="_blank">LINK</a> </b> </div>
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It's actually located just around the corner from where we live, in a beautiful part of Victoria called <b>Harkaway.</b> (Yes, we looked at it, but the price tag and heritage overlays were too prohibitive.) It's one of the prettiest properties I've ever inspected, with a <b>grand carriage drive, a coach house, a summer house (a very cute octagonal retreat), pool, stables, even a historic smoke house</b>. But while the outbuildings may need restoration, the house is immaculate, and is a rare example of an untouched floorplan from the mid-1800s. The highlights include a <b>beautiful drawing room, an enormous kitchen with servery, and a gorgeous enclosed conservatory </b>with a brick floor and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to an elegant arbour. </div>
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Imagine ripping up the worn old tennis court and putting in an Edwardian picking garden? Let's hope it goes to a garden lover.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">DOLCE AND GABBANA'S GARDEN COLLECTION</span></b></div>
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Have you seen <b>Dolce and Gabbana's </b>new botanical garden-inspired collection for A/W 2017? There are <b>dresses imprinted with garden parties</b>, skirts emblazoned with <b>bold palm prints </b>and bags made of <b>pretty wicker</b>. My favourite is the pair of shoes designed like <b>trellis,</b> and the whimsical handbag that looks like a miniature version of the <b>Petit Trianon summer house at Versailles.</b> The collection is a magnificent tribute to the grand gardens of the Victorian era, but it's all done with Dolce and Gabbana's endearing whimsy and eye-catching drama.</div>
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<b>www.dolcegabbana.com</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">HERMES' GARDEN SCARVES</span></b></div>
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<b>Hermès </b>has also been bringing out a number of exquisitely ornate garden scarves each year. The latest is the beautifully ornate <b>Au Pays des Oiseaux Fleurs (</b>above), which comes in various colourways, but Le <b>Jardin de Leila,</b> which was part of last year's collection (and which I bought to celebrate a special occasion), was heavenly, too. <a href="http://australia.hermes.com/la-maison-des-carres/carre-twill-100-soie-90cm-au-pays-des-oiseaux-fleurs-beige-90664.html" target="_blank"><b>LINK HERE</b></a></div>
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<b>www.hermes.com</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BOTANICAL CHANDELIERS</span></b></div>
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Finally, if you're looking for something to enhance your sun room, <b>Canopy Designs in the US </b>creates these sublime porcelain chandeliers that look like something you'd find in an enchanted forest. There are various designs, but this is perhaps the prettiest; a tumbling, wondrous delight of intertwining vines, leaves and buds. They also do bespoke work, so you can create your own botanical-inspired lighting. The link is here -- <a href="http://www.canopydesigns.com/products/chandeliers/nature-inspired" target="_blank"><b>CANOPY NATURE-INSPIRED CHANDELIERS</b></a></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-4948913541476187112016-06-28T09:12:00.002-07:002016-10-03T04:06:32.618-07:00Snapshots from a Tour of Homes and Gardens around the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">If you follow my Instagram feed -- </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">LINK</a>,</b><span style="text-align: start;"> you'll know that I've been living out of a carry-on suitcase for a while, travelling around the world to look at gardens, houses, and cities for several new books. </span><span style="text-align: start;">I'm now home for a few weeks, and I have to say, after endless airports, being home has never made me so happy! For those who aren't on Instagram, here are some of the </span>places and spaces I've been privileged to have visited. Many of them are open to the public (some every day; others only on a few days each month or year), and so if they pique your interest do bookmark their links. That's the best thing about social media: discovering all these fantastic destinations. I'm back on the road in late July, so feel free to follow on Instagram. Wishing you a wonderful week, wherever you may be. </div>
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<b style="text-align: start;">Link <a href="https://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b><span style="text-align: start;">or </span><a href="http://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author</a><b style="text-align: start;"> </b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ITALY (LAKE COMO)</span></b></div>
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Confession: In between all the books and work, I've been trying to design a line of luggage. (A long-held dream after I lost a favourite Armani jacket to a toiletry spill.) Part of the R&D has been in Milan, where elegant bags are a way of life. These pix are from a research trip to <b>Como</b>, squeezed in between photo shoots in Milan, although the highlight of the day was not the textiles but a fleeting visit to the famous <b>Villa del Balbianello</b>. I wanted to do a formal shoot of this garden for a future book on Italy, but the rain was relentless, so it turned into a tourist visit -- which is often the best way to see a place. In fact, rain makes you put down the camera and really see the landscape with your eyes. Unlike most of the other villas on <b>Lake Como, Balbianello </b>is set on a promontory, so its garden has been created from curving paths and magnificent views, rather than long, formal, Italian-style allées. The best way to reach is by ferry to the pretty village of <b>Lenno</b>, then a walk along the waterfront and through the villa's private parkland (<i>rear gate open Tues/Sat/Sun only)</i>. Alternatively, the water taxi, although pricey, offers magnificent views of the villa from the lake. It's one of the most famous villas in the world and remains one of my all-time favourite gardens. Even in the rain. <b><a href="http://www.villabalbianello.com/" target="_blank">www.villabalbianello.com</a></b></div>
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<b>WHERE TO STAY:</b> <a href="http://www.relaisvillavittoria.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.relaisvillavittoria.com</b></a>, a romantic hotel at Laglio, right on Lake Como. Or its neighboring estate <a href="http://www.villareginateodolinda.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.villareginateodolinda.com</b></a> -- just as beautiful.</div>
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<b>WHAT TO READ: </b>The just-published <b><i>Gardens of the Italian Lakes </i></b>(May 2016).</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ITALY (PORTOFINO)</span></b></div>
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I've always wanted to visit <b>Portofino</b> after seeing the film <b>'Enchanted April'. </b>So we squeezed a weekend here for a romantic escape and this was the view (middle pic) that we opened our window to at 6AM, as the sun rose over the Italian Riviera. Even though a posh wedding had pulled into town (the father of the bride had paid for an airline to transport all the guests), the gentle port was still idyllic, especially on Sunday when the 200 wedding guests all wore white for the after-party in the village square! Leaving the partygoers, we hiked along the coast to the glorious monastery garden at <b>Cervara Abbey </b>(bottom right), which is open once a month, and then later walked the trails and terraces behind the castle to peek into the villagers' veggie gardens. I don't know which was more beautiful: the abbey's parterre, or the tiny potagers planted up the mountain? If you've avoided Portofino so far, do see it. The romance clearly worked because it's now my favourite place in the world.</div>
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<b>WHERE TO STAY: The Hotel Piccolo </b>is reasonably priced, and has its own cove for swimming. Try to time your visit for when <b>Cervara Abbey</b> is open ( <b><a href="http://www.cervara.it/en" target="_blank">www.cervara.it/en</a> </b>); the garden (bottom right) is rated one of the best in Italy.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">PARIS</span></b></div>
A night's stopover in Paris was just enough to race around and see the latest places. My favourite was <b>Tory Burch's </b>new and much-talked-about <b>flagship boutique</b> on the <b>Rue Saint-Honoré. </b>It's designed with a coolly sophisticated colour palette that cleverly references Paris' famous architecture and sky. (Even the pale blues seem to match Paris' famous doors.) Its designer <b>Daniel Romualdez</b> (who lives in <b>Bill Blass' </b>former home -- <a href="http://www.vogue.com/865308/the-quiet-american-daniel-romauldez-connecticut-home/" target="_blank"><b>LINK</b></a>) is adept at creating spaces that feel luxurious while still being understated, and his work has made this beautiful boutique a must-see for design fans, whether you buy anything TB or not. <b>412 Rue Saint Honoré, Paris.</b><br />
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<b>WHERE TO STAY:</b> The stylish new <b>Hotel Providence, </b>90 Rue René Boulanger, <a href="http://www.hotelprovidenceparis.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">www.hotelprovidenceparis.com</a><b> </b>Or the classically beautifully <b>Hotel Castille</b>, next to Chanel at 33-37 Rue Cambon<b>. </b><a href="http://www.castille.com/en" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">www.castille.com/en</a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">PROVENCE</span></b></div>
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If you ever get the chance to see the <b>South of France in late April</b>, grab it, for there is nothing like Provence in spring. The light, the flowers, the fragrances, the flavours... I always feel fortunate when I come here, and the four days I spent in late April was no exception. I shot two remarkable gardens for forthcoming books: <b>Le Louve in Bonnieux , </b>and <b>Pavilion de Galon in Curcuron.</b> The former garden was designed by <b>Hermès' former head of design Nicole de Vésian</b>, and is a spectacular green and white garden designed to look like a tapestry. It's still private but it's open to the public, although you need to book a tour through the website — <b><a href="http://www.lalouve.eu/" target="_blank">www.lalouve.eu</a> </b><i>(And if your French is rusty, like mine, just use Google Translate to convert your email before you send it; it's courteous to write in French and their reply will be quicker.) </i><b>La Pavilion de Galon, </b>which is nearby, is a<b> former hunting lodge </b>that's now an exquisite country garden done entirely in <b>purples and blues</b> created by noted French photographer <b>Guy Hervais and his beautiful wife Bibi</b>. You need to stay there to see it, but it's worth it; wandering the enormous iris garden at first light is an experience I'll never forget. The garden is best in either mid-spring, when it's blanketed in irises and wisteria, or in summer, when all the salvias are out. The landscape in this part of Provence is truly extraordinary; gentle roads meandering through villages and around mountains, with views that make you want to stop the car at every turn. No wonder Peter Mayle has returned here to live.<br />
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<b>WHERE TO STAY: Pavilion de Galon <a href="http://www.pavillondegalon.com/" target="_blank">www.pavillondegalon.com</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">LONDON</span></b></div>
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For two brief few weeks in May and June each year, <b>London</b> erupts in flowers. Streets are garlanded with embroidered trims of pale pink and purple wisteria, front gardens explode with roses, and of course the huge Chelsea Flower Show pulls into town; like a giant scented circus. Some of the best places to see gardens, particularly the wisteria, are the little streets and mews lanes around <b>Launceston Place</b>, although <b>Notting Hill and Chelsea </b>are good wisteria-hunting grounds too. </div>
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I have to admit I love wandering the streets of Chelsea, Pimlico and Kensington in May, where the flower-filled boutique windows are often just as good as anything you'd find at Chelsea. Of course, the famous flower show is still a great insight into the newest horticultural trends, but it's increasingly impossible to see (or shoot) the gardens with the crowds, and the ticket prices have skyrocketed to the point of ridiculous. A better option is to grab a map of all the entrants in either the <b>Chelsea in Bloom</b> or <b>Belgravia in Bloom festivals </b><i>(usually available from any store with flowers out front)</i><b>, and do your own free walking tour. </b>Many streets, particularly those in Pimlico, are a veritable <i>festival of petals</i>. Furthermore, some boutiques offer fantastic classes. This year, <b>David Linley </b>put on a <b>willow weaving workshop </b>(above), to match the giant willow displays that were in front of his store. You can see easily why these various fringe festivals (there are several others in London at this time beside the Bloom ones) are overtaking the Chelsea Flower Show in the popularity stakes.</div>
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<b>WHERE TO STAY:</b> My favourite London hotels are still <b>The Pelham</b> (Kit Kemp's interior design without the Firmdale price), <b>The Ampersand</b>, and <b>Blakes</b> (opt for the Designer Double rooms), which are all in South Kensington and thus close to the museums, parks, and bookstores and fabric shops of King's Road. However, the newly renovated <b>Flemings in Mayfair (</b>above, with green banquettes), is a pretty and ideally located bolthole for those who want to be closer to the West End. <a href="http://www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk</b></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE COTSWOLDS</b></span></div>
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If you go to the Cotswolds a lot, you may think you've seen it all. But this trip I discovered several places I never knew existed. One was <b>Chastleton House</b>. Scene of the BBC series <i><b>Wolf Hall,</b></i> it's a perfectly preserved Jacobean mansion filled with extraordinary period rooms, many featuring superb tapestries and furniture. But the most fascinating thing about Chastleton is its families. Each generation became poorer and poorer until the last owner lived in just one room. But the lack of modern updates meant that poverty actually <i>preserved</i> the house. (There's a wonderful article <b><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/to-the-manor-born-then-the-national-trust-took-over-1234973.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</b>) Some critics feel that it's a bit too 'lost in time', and that perhaps a bit of furniture polish and some flowers wouldn't go astray. But I saw only beauty and dignity and grace: a house that has lived a thousand lives and is still looking fine for her age. Just look at this tapestry, which covered a whole wall of the bedroom. Even the long walk to the house, through a pretty field, was part of the charm. Wonderful. Just wonderful. <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chastleton-house" target="_blank"><b>www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chastleton-house</b></a></div>
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<b>WHERE TO STAY: The Wild Rabbit,</b> a chic hideaway with a famous restaurant. <b><a href="http://www.thewildrabbit.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.thewildrabbit.co.uk</a> </b>Or <b>The Wheatsheaf,</b> an upmarket pub with luxurious rooms at affordable prices. <a href="http://www.cotswoldswheatsheaf.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.cotswoldswheatsheaf.com </b></a><b>Temple Guiting </b>is another swish place; a grand manor with a superb garden, but rates are high. (You have been warned.)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WILTSHIRE AND DORSET</b></span></div>
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If you saw last year's film <i><b>Far From The Madding Crowd</b></i>, and loved the Dorset landscape in which it was filmed, then put this place on your To See List. <b>Mapperton House</b> (above) was the setting for Bathsheba's farm although the best part, the garden, wasn't featured in the film (I would have included it!), probably because Bathsheba's farm was meant to be run down and this amazing garden may have cast doubt on that. Set in a deep valley behind the manor house, it's a formal garden of topiaries and terraces that extends from a stunning conservatory (above) to a series of grand swimming pools (bottom left). I only had an hour here and wished I could have spent longer. It's magnificent. Completely and utterly magnificent. Don't miss the secret corners, including the two-story summer house. <b><a href="http://mapperton.com/" target="_blank">http://mapperton.com</a></b></div>
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<b>WHERE TO STAY:</b> We stayed in a tiny pub in a tinier fishing village called <b>West Bay </b>(where <i>Broadchurch</i> is filmed), but if we returned we'd try and stay at Lyme Regis, specifically <b>Belmont House</b>, which is one of the prettiest places in the south. <a href="http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/properties/belmont-25015" target="_blank"><b>LINK</b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW YORK</span></b></div>
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Manhattan is always magic in spring, and on this visit I made sure that I made time to see the <b>New York Botanic Garden</b>, which my friend Lee had said was a 'must see'. Inside the gardens, the <b>Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden </b>was not only peaking, it was the best rose season they'd ever had. But the famous conservatory was enthralling too, especially the <b>'Impressionist' garden </b> that had been recreated as part of the <b>American Impressionism</b> exhibition. A fundraising ball was held the afternoon I was there, and this was just one of the arrangements. If you're heading to New York, jump on a train at Grand Central and head here, before the roses fade. It's a spectacular part of Manhattan than many tourists (myself included) miss. <b><a href="http://www.nybg.org/" target="_blank">www.nybg.org</a></b></div>
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<b>WHERE TO STAY:</b> I usually love <b>The Roger or The Nomad,</b> but this time I stayed in a new and very cute boutique hotel called <b>The Gregory, near Bryant Park.</b> Themed around books and fashion, it's incredibly cheap, and has lovely staff and a superb restaurant next door that's reminiscent of a historic old New York bistro -- high ceilings, huge fireplace, timber panelling, crips white tablecloths. The suites at the front are best. A truly gorgeous little Manhattan hideaway. <a href="http://www.thegregoryhotelnewyork.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.thegregoryhotelnewyork.com</b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NANTUCKET</span></b></div>
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A quick flight from JFK takes you to <b>Nantucket</b>, a dazzling island off Cape Cod that's becoming renowned for great design. This has long been one of my favourite places in the world. This gentleman above is <b>Gary McBournie</b>, a gorgeous designer I've known for years who has a weekender on Nantucket with his lovely partner Bill. (You may have seen their house in the May issue of <i>House Beautiful</i>). There is a lot of new construction going on all over the island, but the influx of money means there's also a lot of beautiful new boutiques and hotels and bistros. Here are some of my favourite new places from the weekend:</div>
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<b>WHERE TO STAY: 74 Main</b>, a sophisticated boutique hotel with glamorous rooms <a href="http://www.76main.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.76main.com</b></a><b> O</b>r <b>The Roberts Collection</b>, a recently renovated hotel with several buildings -- I stayed in The Gatehouse -- <a href="http://www.therobertscollection.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.therobertscollection.com </b></a>The former has better service and better rooms, but is more difficult to book because it's so popular. The latter is cute but perhaps be patient with the 'casual' attitudes. </div>
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<b>WHERE TO EAT: </b>I loved <b>Met on Main </b>(two photos on right) for the beautiful wallpapers and banquettes, but the cutely named '<b>Cru</b>', a yacht-club-style hangout at the very end of the wharf, had a great vibe, gorgeous staff uniform, and of course that inimitable view that only Nantucket can do.</div>
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Then it was back to New York, flying low over the Hamptons, and a final few days of R&R in New York before heading back to Australia. </div>
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More gardens and homes are scheduled for July and August, so do join Instagram if you'd like to follow. And -- as always -- email me for any travel tips -- or just to say hello. <b>janelle.mcculloch@bigpond.com</b></div>
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<b>janelle(dot)mcculloch@bigpond.com</b></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-90152389650247601592016-03-16T08:31:00.001-07:002016-10-03T04:07:26.689-07:00Celebrating Flowers, London and Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the lovely projects I've just finished photographing and writing is a new guidebook about London, called <b>LONDON SECRETS</b>, which is to be published later this year by my former publisher (and employer, when I was a book editor), <b>Images Publishing</b>. It's designed to be a companion to the bestselling<b> PARIS SECRETS -- details of which are <a href="http://imagespublishing.com/products/paris-secrets" target="_blank">here</a>.</b> London is going through a huge design revival at the moment, and it's always a joy to return to this city, which seems to look beautiful regardless of whether it's drizzling and grisaille grey or shimmering under silvery sunshine. </div>
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I'm now working on a beautiful garden book for <b>a major publisher, </b>which involves writing abut gardens in the UK, France, Italy, the US, the Caribbean and other destinations. So if the blog and Instagram posts are sporadic, that's why, and I hope you'll forgive me. As compensation, here are some <b>glorious garden bits and pieces </b>to celebrate the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. (And a few travel tips for <b>London,</b> too.)</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">LONDON -- NEW SPACES AND PLACES</span></b></div>
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<b>(From the new LONDON SECRETS book, published by Images in late 2016)</b></div>
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I love London. It's my second home. But the city is changing so fast at the moment that it feels like there's something new going up every week. Of all the new architecture appearing in London, some of the most exciting buildings are the new hotels, which seem to be sprouting like spring bulbs at the moment. Two of the most talked about are the <b>Hotel Costes on Sloane Square </b><i>(still to break ground, but not far off)</i>, and a new hotel planned by bestselling writer <b>Alain de Botton </b>called <b>The Philosopher's Hotel. </b>The latter project is tucked away in the serene, leafy streets of Hampstead, and is being billed as "the thinking person's hideaway". Spaces include a library (which Botton has dubbed 'Keats' Living Room'), a study (naturally called 'Freud's Study'), and an art studio, named after Constable. (You don't want to turn up with a low-brow book here!)</div>
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If you can't wait for these two boutique hideaways to be finished, there is a new, superbly named hotel called <b>Batty Langley's,</b> which is the third hotel from the gentlemen behind the equally quirky <b>Hazlitt’s in Soho and The Rookery in Clerkenwell.</b> The theme was inspired by the eccentric <b>English garden designer and writer Batty Langley,</b> who was famous for producing 'patterns' for Gothic structures, including summerhouses and garden seats, in the mid-18th century. He was particularly fond of <i>cabinets de verdure</i>, but all his garden designs were popular. His book <i>New Principles of Gardening</i>, in 1728, was a surprise bestseller. Even George Washington was a fan. There are likely to be many fans of this new London hotel, which is arguably one of the most charming retreats in the entire city. <a href="http://www.battylangleys.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.battylangleys.com</b></a></div>
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There is also a newbie in Notting Hill -- <b>The Laslett Hotel </b>(although I was a bit underwhelmed by it), and another cutie in Marylebone, the <b>Zetter Townhouse in Marylebone,</b> which is sister to the much-loved <b>Zetter in Clerkenwell.</b> The latter is probably the best bet for those who love textiles, antiques, books, and beautiful rooms, although its location -- right in the middle of Marylebone's magnificent shopping quarter -- is pretty irresistible too. Like Batty Langley's Hotel, <b>The Zetter Marylebone</b> is modelled on a character, only this one is fictitious gent called <b>Uncle Seymour. </b>The idea is that it's meant to represent the London townhouse of a well-read but slightly eccentric gentleman, whose books and antiques are all still as they were when he resided here. (It's a tradition: the sister Zetter in Clerkenwell was the townhouse of 'Great Aunt Wilhelmina'). There's an extraordinarily <b>beautiful restaurant / bar called 'Seymour's Parlour',</b> which is cosy and claret colored, and filled with things that look like they should be in the <b>Soane Museum</b>. The best suite is the<b> Rooftop Apartment </b>with its own terrace, outdoor bath and an (indoor) bathroom decorated with an enormous vintage map -- all mad but so fantastic too! <a href="http://www.thezettertownhouse.com/marylebone" target="_blank"><b>www.thezettertownhouse.com/marylebone</b></a></div>
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As for horticultural havens, there are a few of those in this new book. My favorite new discoveries include the<b> Isabella Gardner Plantation in Richmond </b>(stunning azaleas in spring!), and <b>Duck Island Cottage in St James's Park.</b> (There is a fantastic story behind this cottage; too complicated to include here, but do look it up if you love gardens and history.)</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">EIGHTY, AND STILL ELEGANT IN WELLIES...</span></b></div>
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Speaking of London, and gardening, and all things charming and quirky and quintessentially British, it's fantastic to see that<b> Jo Malone's </b>new spokesperson is the eighty-year-old model and gardening cover girl <b>Gitte Lee</b>. (Christopher Lee's widow.) She's so beautiful. Look at her, with her three hats, her silk scarves (she's wearing two, just to be sure!), and her diamond brooch. What glamour! </div>
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She's also the perfect person to spruce the company's new limited edition collection of fragrances, <b>'Herb Garden'</b> , which are designed to be the best kind of casual scents. The descriptions alone make you want to try them --<i> 'Lemon thyme crushed in soil-covered hands; cool earth encasing ripening carrots and fennel; the aromatic artistry of herbs -- verdant, crisp, juicy and sweet...</i>' Just the thing for weekend spritzes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.jomalone.com./" target="_blank"><b>www.jomalone.com</b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MAIRA KALMAN'S ILLUSTRATIONS</span></b></div>
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It could be argued that Jo Malone's team has taken inspiration for the above photo shoot with Gitte Lee from Rhoda Birley's famous photo in the fantastic book <b><i>Garden People: The Photographs of Valerie Finnis </i></b>(Thames and Hudson). </div>
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Many gardeners know about this book and the colorful characters in it (Rhoda -- Lady Birley -- was shot in her garden at Charleston, in Sussex), but what's interesting is how it continues to inspire people -- and photo shoots -- years after it was published. </div>
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I recently came across these sublime illustrations by <b>New York illustrator Maira Kalman,</b> who loves to paint gardens and gardeners, and perfectly captured Rhoda (above) in her now-legendary gardening outfit. </div>
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Maira Kalman also painted an exquisite study of <b>Sissinghurst's garden </b>(above)<b>.</b></div>
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Maira is now so highly regarded that many people are commissioning her to do books and magazine covers. <b><i>The New Yorke</i></b>r has been asking her to design their covers for years. (This week's issue of <i>The New Yorker</i>; a pink-hued, petalled study of a green-mustached man to celebrate the advent of spring, is by Maira.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOsH5aTamlTzZVkFuv-nTDA13Aapa10ae9rYnhb4t_YlHdSpEWZaqhwxdKmJbywYFMiuoXOCf_H98KQwCi9B-Ptg3H8upPoL2O1TDwkNPw74jibVemfSnO2hKjJ839rVCZsna8YeM7N8/s1600/CoverStory-Kalman-Spring-Forward-690x945-1457649690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sJ9yVvyWlP6sFBTPXzHPklJnBR-8d7j7Q-piB9T7F1LJXKet7OF8fBLZylYe4wthccG3c4lDkn4wO4TsbryieQztd8H9SVqB02LmRSRCXEev7niEn0CJ98RG1GNMQx9zLGCtwHiT6JM/s1600/maira-kalman.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sJ9yVvyWlP6sFBTPXzHPklJnBR-8d7j7Q-piB9T7F1LJXKet7OF8fBLZylYe4wthccG3c4lDkn4wO4TsbryieQztd8H9SVqB02LmRSRCXEev7niEn0CJ98RG1GNMQx9zLGCtwHiT6JM/s640/maira-kalman.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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Here's one of her spring covers here --</div>
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For more information on Maira Kalman, there's a<b> TED talk here -- <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/maira_kalman_the_illustrated_woman?language=en" target="_blank">The Illustrated Woman</a></b>. Or there are lots of articles on various sites around the Net.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BEAUTIFUL BOOKS, NEW AND OLD</span></b></div>
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There are some gorgeous books being released this year, including an enormous tome of all of <b>Karl Lagerfeld's theatrical catwalk shows for</b> <b>Chanel,</b> published in May <b>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chanel-Complete-Lagerfeld-Collections-Catwalk/dp/0300218699" target="_blank">LINK HERE</a>)</b>, and a new <b>Thames & Hudson title called <i>Floral Patterns of India</i> </b>-- a must if you love design (and India!). </div>
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However, I've been quietly buying a lot of vintage titles, as much for their charming covers and design as for the stories inside. </div>
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The favorite so far has been <b>Vita Sackville-West's <i>English Country Houses</i></b>, which she wrote while London was being bombed during the Blitz, and entire areas of southern England were being destroyed. It was her hymn to a way of life that was fast disappearing, not just because of the war but because of the changes that were taking place in society. </div>
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<b>Beverley Nichols' book</b>s are well worth reading, too -- although perhaps start with his biography first, to better understand him. Warning: Once you start reading his books, you'll find it difficult to stop!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">GARDENS ILLUSTRATED -- AND VITA'S LOST ROSES</span></b></div>
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One of the best magazines in the world is <b><i>Gardens Illustrated</i></b>, the beautifully produced UK publication that's also sold elsewhere in the world. The photography is always superb, and the articles always feature under-the-radar gardens, interesting landscape designers and gardens, and beautiful flowers and plants. </div>
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The latest issue, No 229, is a special edition that features an enthralling story written by<b> Sissinghurst's head gardener, Troy Scott Smith, about Vita Sackville-West's lost roses.</b> <i>(Released Feb/March in UK; March elsewhere, including Australia.)</i> </div>
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Vita Sackville-West was famous for her roses. And when she noticed that many cultivars and species were dying out across England, she made it her mission to save and protect as many as she could. Unfortunately, of the 300 roses that she saved at Sissinghurst, only 100 were still alive in 2013, when head gardener Troy Scott Smith took over the estate. Cognizant of Vita's horticultural legacy, he took it upon himself to find "Vita's lost roses" and reinstate them into the garden. He used Vita's diaries and notebooks to identify where the roses had been in the garden, and what their names were, although head gardener Jack Vass' detailed garden plans were also helpful. Sadly, some of the roses seemed to be lost forever, but Troy tracked down more than 200 of Vita's original plants and brought them back to Vita's beds. </div>
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<i>Gardens Illustrated</i> has a lovely story on the search for the lost roses, as well as four wonderful pages showing 44 of the best roses grown in Vita's garden. (And also specialist suppliers where you can source rare roses.) </div>
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If only Vita were alive to see her rose beds restored to their original glory. She would no doubt be very pleased.</div>
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<b>Link to article <a href="http://www.gardensillustrated.com/article/plants/15-roses-sissinghhurst-castle" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-71778574897467188702016-01-24T17:33:00.005-08:002016-01-24T17:36:38.330-08:00News on the Duchess of Devonshire, Pierre Frey and Belmont House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">SOTHEBY'S AUCTION OF THE PERSONAL TREASURES </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">OF THE </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE</span></b></div>
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One of the most anticipated auctions this year is <b>Sotheby's forthcoming auction</b> of the personal items of one of this century's most remarkable women, <b>Deborah, Duchess of Devonshir</b>e. It seems strange to think she's gone, after such a long and extraordinary life as <b>one of the legendary Mitford sisters</b>, and even stranger to think that her beloved things are now being auctioned. But she was so adored by the public, and if some of the contents of her final home The Old Vicarage at Edensor on the Chatsworth Estate can be sold to raise money for estate of Chatsworth, why not?<br />
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I always regret not meeting her before she passed away. A contact at Heywood Hill bookshop in Mayfair (which the Devonshires bought in recent years, in order to save it) kindly said he would make arrangements for me to visit (it was for a forthcoming book on gardens, one of the Duchess' passions), but in the end she wasn't well enough. A friend of mine in the US dated Elvis for the briefest of periods (she was very young at the time!) and I had some great stories about Elvis to tell her (another of her obsessions). But it was not to be. I probably would have been too shy to converse much anyway. She really was one of the most interesting, most inspirational businesswomen of our time.<br />
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The <b><i>Financial Times </i>(FT)</b> has recently published a wonderful piece about the sale <b><a href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/8419412a-c02c-11e5-9fdb-87b8d15baec2.html#slide0" target="_blank">here</a>.</b> And <b>Sotheby's</b> has another, smaller, article about 'Debo' (as she was called) on its website<b style="text-decoration: underline;"> </b><a href="http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2016/deborah-duchess-devonshire-l16318.html" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">here</a>,<b style="text-decoration: underline;"> </b>as well as a glimpse at a few of the pieces going to auction<b><u> </u><a href="http://www.sothebys.com/en/news-video/slideshows/2016/deborah-duchess-of-devonshire-collection-highlights.html#" target="_blank">here</a>. </b>The sale includes exquisite jewels (some gifted to her by her husband and his parents), a rare copy of <i>Brideshead Revisited</i> personally inscribed by her friend Evelyn Waugh, plus fine and decorative art, and (something I'd love to view) the contents of Duchess of Devonshire’s library. <br />
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Here are a few pre-sale photos and pieces from the auction, from Sotheby's website:<br />
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The collection mixes high-end and low. There are many personal photos, including the one above of the Mitford family, priced at a reserve of only a few hundred pounds. But there are is the Duchess' jewellery, including a <b>Chanel camellia </b>(£400) and a pair of <b>aquamarine-and-diamond clip</b>s (£2,000), and a book of <b>John F Kennedy </b>portraits (£1,500 -- £2,000) signed by the former US president with the sign-off 'L.O', a reference to the sisters’ habit of calling him 'Loved One'. (JFK was a close friend of the family.)</div>
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<b>More details of the sale, including the pieces in the photos above, on Sotheby's website.</b></div>
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<b>The auction is at Sotheby's London, March 2, 2016, with pre-sale viewing from February 27 -- March 1.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BEAUTIFUL BELMONT HOUSE: </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PLACES TO STAY IN ENGLAND</span></b></div>
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One of the most popular places to stay in England isn't a hotel but a small, relatively unknown <b>Landmark Trust property</b> known simply as <b>'Belmont House'</b>. It's an exquisite, pale pink, 18th-century, Grade II-listed villa in Dorset that was once owned by businesswoman Eleanor Coade and more recently the author, John Fowles, whose books include<b><i> The French Lieutenant's Woman.</i></b> </div>
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The Landmark Trust has spent several years carefully restoring the house, including the Victorian observatory tower, with hatch and revolving roof, and the garden leading down to the beach, and has opened it up for short stays. However, it's proved so popular that the earliest available booking is now mid-2017.<i> (NB: It's incredibly inexpensive; the villa sleeps </i></div>
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<i>8, and 4 nights is £640, or just £20 per person, per night.)</i></div>
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For those who would love to see it but can't wait until 2017, there is a rare <b>Open Day on the weekend of Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February 2016</b> , from 10am to 4pm each day. No booking is required.</div>
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More details on Belmont can be found <a href="http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/belmont/" target="_blank">here</a>. It looks beautiful.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MAISON PIERRE FREY EXHIBITION </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">AT PARIS' MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS</span></b></div>
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The first major exhibition of French textile house Maison Pierre Frey since 1935 opens at the <b>Musée des Arts Décoratifs</b> in Paris this month. The show features many of the famous fabrics produced by Pierre Frey as well as the stages and techniques involved in creating and producing a textile, from the sketch to the finished product. It's set to be a fascinating show about fabrics, but it also covers wallpapers, and how they're conceived, created and produced.</div>
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Knowing Pierre Frey, there is certain to be awealth of patterns, colours and information on display.</div>
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<b>TISSUS INSPIRÉS: PIERRE FREY is at the</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/en/exhibitions/current-events-1322/musee-des-arts-decoratifs/tissus-inspires-pierre-frey/" target="_blank">Musée des Arts décoratifs </a>from 21 January until 12 June 2016. </b></div>
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<b>More details can be found</b> <a href="http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/en/exhibitions/current-events-1322/musee-des-arts-decoratifs/tissus-inspires-pierre-frey/" target="_blank"> here</a>.</div>
Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-22388614676022080832016-01-11T18:49:00.001-08:002016-01-12T06:36:38.839-08:00The New Trend for Flowers, Scents, Floral Books and Other Gardenalia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is a quiet but highly scented new trend sweeping England, France, the US, Australia and other international destinations. And it's all to do with botanica. In this grey, urban, high-tech world, we're turning to a new kind of therapy to offset it all: Petal Power.</div>
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I'm currently working on an ambitious new garden book, but my project is daisies compared to some of the extraordinary floral and garden projects being seen around the globe at the moment. </div>
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Here are a few incredible ones...</div>
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<b>As always, follow my Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">LINK</a> , or at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author</a> </b></div>
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<b>I'm finishing writing two books but will be back to IG next week, once the deadlines are over.</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(PS It seems strange to do this in a post about gardens, but RIP David Bowie. He will be greatly missed.)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A GRAND SCANDINAVIAN GARDEN </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">(AND A GRAND NEW BOOK)</span></b></div>
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Do you follow <b>Claus Dalby and his gorgeous garden on Instagram? </b>I've written about him here before, but his photographs are becoming more and more beautiful with each passing season. Claus is a Danish plantsman, publisher, author, florist, photographer and an all-round lovely man man whose Scandinavian garden is arguably one of the best private picking gardens (flower gardens) in the world. </div>
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Unfortunately, the garden isn't open to the public, apart from one or two rare days each year (usually August). But the good news is that <b><i>Gardens Illustrated </i></b>magazine is featuring his spring bulbs and other stunning tulips in a forthcoming issue. (Most likely April 2016)</div>
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And the even <i>better</i> news is that Mr Dalby is also working on a book, which will detail the whole development of this grand garden over the years.</div>
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The image above is the entrance to the garden. Glorious, isn't it?</div>
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Here are some further images from his Instagram feed.</div>
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It's an astonishing estate.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEpLe-ekzi8dTp6J4MtBl96KPXk3cOfMY3xp6vKfUBs6_sjIR0wojVUgDmjDKosSMY7FqYSDfu7ey61Uuf0wpm9iQMYQOXNOsUs0exkO711GckRTefd5meStHvDj19JSRzHuFON7S7n4/s1600/ClausDalby2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEpLe-ekzi8dTp6J4MtBl96KPXk3cOfMY3xp6vKfUBs6_sjIR0wojVUgDmjDKosSMY7FqYSDfu7ey61Uuf0wpm9iQMYQOXNOsUs0exkO711GckRTefd5meStHvDj19JSRzHuFON7S7n4/s640/ClausDalby2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYaoG3IRYIyRD6gkCDCOz0d3faBOrlHs3HjeHfZtg9IGfaQR_W_p5ZlGQP_rCS88hEEatTbxdqTO63kXg7F5XuXyH7ZvlT2-fGLl59HnGbk3LfyUDVF4SLEyqtxp0-6837H39Fh4WMAo/s1600/ClausDalby1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYaoG3IRYIyRD6gkCDCOz0d3faBOrlHs3HjeHfZtg9IGfaQR_W_p5ZlGQP_rCS88hEEatTbxdqTO63kXg7F5XuXyH7ZvlT2-fGLl59HnGbk3LfyUDVF4SLEyqtxp0-6837H39Fh4WMAo/s640/ClausDalby1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The room above is his 'vase room' (this is half the space). It's interesting how most of the vessels are green shades. Perhaps they highlight the flowers better than more neutral-colored or glass vases?</div>
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More of Claus Dalby's beautiful images can be found <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clausdalby/?hl=en" target="_blank">here</a> . Many of them are his flower arrangements, which are just as superb as his perennial beds.</div>
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Further details can be found <b><a href="http://www.clausdalby.dk/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMEVxDaL9FLjO2sxw35FXiZjnmCOaqBmgd4CHVJWdC_b4YEzEdZcIhKHYD0O4A115ga-2d1Y8NnAlg0CSQbMMBJrElyyVNoxqZnoLYvVF5zGJQkEvSBDNnmQJ5GrBqYZrtVxONLEUuek/s1600/WardingtonHall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMEVxDaL9FLjO2sxw35FXiZjnmCOaqBmgd4CHVJWdC_b4YEzEdZcIhKHYD0O4A115ga-2d1Y8NnAlg0CSQbMMBJrElyyVNoxqZnoLYvVF5zGJQkEvSBDNnmQJ5GrBqYZrtVxONLEUuek/s640/WardingtonHall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5HD2hshwWOLrK3ELlfyU76pVQkaZQUcZnkZDRPdbI-kA0-3EyTuZJX-Yy4srvVvKRP-kW5JLl5cYYCarUqRPGAAPfJQPSOkRqNGF_95-xNACfy222KSN9wYn4UKFbbfs3nItTS9uzK0/s1600/WardingtonHall2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5HD2hshwWOLrK3ELlfyU76pVQkaZQUcZnkZDRPdbI-kA0-3EyTuZJX-Yy4srvVvKRP-kW5JLl5cYYCarUqRPGAAPfJQPSOkRqNGF_95-xNACfy222KSN9wYn4UKFbbfs3nItTS9uzK0/s640/WardingtonHall2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE LAND GARDENERS AT WARDINGTON MANOR:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">FLORAL WORKSHOPS AND GARDEN GRANDEUR</span></b></div>
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Another Instagram feed worth following is <b>The Land Gardeners, </b>the business name for two floral entrepreneurs whose skill with arrangements is almost more impressive than the Oxfordshire garden and manor house they do it in. </div>
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<b>Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy </b>established <b>The Land Gardeners</b> in order to grow organic, quintessentially English cut flowers. Each week, they deliver buckets of blooms to London florists, local markets and individual clients. However, they also design gardens -- "wild romantic, productive and joyful gardens", says their wild, romantic, joyful website- - and they've already finished projects in England, France, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. </div>
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But perhaps the one thing they're really becoming noted for are their workshops, in which they explore "healthy gardens". These workshops, held at historic <b>Wardington Hall,</b> are not only a chance to learn about gardening, flowers and other beautiful botanical matters, but to see the Manor and its gracious garden beds up close. (The dahlias are spectacular.) </div>
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Forthcoming workshops include <b>Grow Your Own Cut Flowers</b> (Edwardian cutting gardens are very 'in' again), <b>Planting a Dyers Garden</b> and <b>How To Grow Edible Flowers</b>.</div>
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For more details, see <a href="http://thelandgardeners.com/learning--events" target="_blank"><b>http://thelandgardeners.com/learning--events</b></a> or <a href="http://bridget-elworthy-fqiy.squarespace.com/upcoming-events/" target="_blank"><b>THIS LINK</b></a> for details.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CHELSEA AND THE ORIENT EXPRESS </span></b></div>
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The <b>Chelsea Flower Show </b>has seen some astounding show gardens over the decades, including one by the house of Chanel. (Still my favourite.) But the masterful, magnificent garden planned by <b>Harrods and Orient Express </b>for this year's show looks set to be one of the best yet.</div>
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The grand centerpiece will be a 25-m (80-foott) -long carriage from <b>1920s Belmond British Pullman </b>(sister train to the legendary <b>Venice-Simplon Orient-Express), which will be 'parked' in a special Chelsea Flower Show train station that will be surrounded by a a 6,000-square-foot </b>garden. There will be two platforms, with Platform 2 featuring rare jungle ferns and other exotic, eye-catching plants. </div>
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It's all designed to represent a 'journey through gardens' over the centuries. Very, very clever, indeed.</div>
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There is also a garden called <b>‘The British Eccentrics Garden’ </b>(above), which looks like being one to watch as well.</div>
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More details on Chelsea can be found <b><a href="http://press.rhs.org.uk/RHS-Shows/Chelsea-2009/Press-releases/RHS-Chelsea-Flower-Show-2016-Highlights.aspx" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OhdlSVOQxZb7Kk5UkVxzLxMVJJAuwwpwh15QD82MFz9GyujyZqG68LYDCws3Baca5EXCHwklA4NBOqm0WjGWmSFpo4n536OAwrxh5kvtYnrxU_A3jRD_9bVkGb9aSYe1aNpUgVs_KpI/s1600/IndianSummers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OhdlSVOQxZb7Kk5UkVxzLxMVJJAuwwpwh15QD82MFz9GyujyZqG68LYDCws3Baca5EXCHwklA4NBOqm0WjGWmSFpo4n536OAwrxh5kvtYnrxU_A3jRD_9bVkGb9aSYe1aNpUgVs_KpI/s640/IndianSummers1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A LOST HOUSE AND GARDEN IN MALAYSIA, REDISCOVERED BY A FILM CREW</span></b></div>
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Did you catch the period drama <b><i>Indian Summers</i></b> on Britain's Channel Four or in the US or Australia last year? (It's now on DVD if you didn't.) It was so successful that a new series has been commissioned and is currently in production. </div>
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It's an epic drama set in the summer of 1932, at a time when India dreamed of independence, but the British were still clinging to power. The series revolves around the events of a summer spent at Simla, in the foothills of the Himalayas, by a group of British socialites at the time of the British Raj. </div>
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The producers looked at filming in Simla, but eventually decided, due to logistics and monsoons, that <b>Georgetown on the island of Penang </b>would be better. <i>(NB Because of this series, I now want to see Georgetown, which has been declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and so do thousands of others, judging by the increase in visitor numbers!)</i> Executive producer Charlie Pattinson found their perfect setting on the VERY LAST DAY of their five-month scouting mission, after many countries and countless sites. It was at the top of <b>Penang Hill, in Malaysia, </b>where the wealthy had built hill stations to avoid the heat. It was a semi-derelict house that was hidden by jungle overgrowth but that clearly showed the remains of a grand floor plan and garden. It took the team some time to hack through the jungle to fully assess it, but when they at last emerged from the overgrowth, they knew it was going to make the whole show.</div>
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<b>Woodside Bungalow,</b> as it is known, was always going to take a lot to restore, and so Penang’s chief minister, who knew the colonial property and its architectural neighbours from his childhood, stepped in to assist. He found the funds and became personally invested in the project. After several months, and great deal of painting and replanting, the house and garden were ready to be filmed. It was renamed 'Chotipool', and can be seen above, serving as the home of <i>Indian Summers'</i> central character Ralph Whelan and his sister Alice. </div>
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However <b>Woodside</b> wasn't the only hill station to be saved by <i>Indian Summers' </i>team. They also stumbled upon the old <b>Crag Hotel,</b> which was also perched on top of Penang Hill with its spectacular views. <i>(Both houses could only be reached by a water-powered funicular railway, a real relic of empire, which eventually caused problems with production and the transporting of equipment up and down the mountain.) </i>The Crag Hotel was one of several 19th-century hotels, including Singapore’s Raffles, that had been owned by an Armenian family, the Sarkies. After the Second World War the Crag Hotel became a boarding school, and was then used as a set in the 1991 film <b><i>Indochine</i></b>, starring <b>Catherine Deneuve.</b> <i>(I still remember the scene where she steps out onto the verandah, with the old timber shutters visible behind her.)</i></div>
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But after the <i>Indochine </i>film crew left, the jungle re-claimed it. When the <i>Indian Summers</i> team came along and saw its forlorn facade, barely visible through the vegetation, they knew that the Crag would be perfect as the Royal Simla Club, where much of the action happens in the series. <i>(Julie Walters is the club's owner and powerbroker.)</i></div>
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Isn't that a great story of two great houses and gardens, lost to the world and then rediscovered just in time?</div>
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More details on Indian Summers' setting can be found <b><a href="http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-03-08/secrets-from-the-set-of-indian-summers" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div>
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Let's hope they commission a third and fourth series, and it becomes -- as the media are suggesting -- the next <i>Downton Abbey.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOAKvQnTsb7BM_eI2KdaT3iHbGFXifYJx5fSw03Rhr4_Iyr5eyjCgqenRY3-tggLcDPmCti76pFJ2gV1Y-KqnfhkXD56v-3_e-OuajMR7gYAr1L_7ToWCSWU7f8tUwPlwOoa01OhjksQ/s1600/PauletteTavormina1_Book1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOAKvQnTsb7BM_eI2KdaT3iHbGFXifYJx5fSw03Rhr4_Iyr5eyjCgqenRY3-tggLcDPmCti76pFJ2gV1Y-KqnfhkXD56v-3_e-OuajMR7gYAr1L_7ToWCSWU7f8tUwPlwOoa01OhjksQ/s640/PauletteTavormina1_Book1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">PAULETTE TAVORMINA AND THE ART OF FLORAL PHOTOGRAPHY</span></b></div>
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Have you heard of the New York photographer <b>Paulette Tavormina?</b> I was first alerted to her by a friend Lee. (We send each other recommendations all the time; aren't they the best kinds of friends to have?) Paulette composes the most beautiful still lives you've ever seen; intricate studies of figs and roses and fruit that look more like 17th-century Old Masters' paintings than something put together on a 21st-century photography studio. (She admits to being influenced and inspired by the still life art of Dutch, Italian and Spanish painters of the 17th century, including Francesco de Zurbarán, Giovanna Garzoni, Maria Sibylla Merian, and Willem Claesz Heda.)</div>
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Well, Paulette Taormina has, not surprisingly, gathered a following and is now producing a limited-edition book on her work, which is available to pre-order. There are also exhibitions and workshops planned for 2016.</div>
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Here are a few more extraordinary studies from her website. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkti-uGXu-cZz9thgx-Tt4cP7qc5rSmY1EC_94ok__ni-b1ptlKKRPhfbYkpARFdrBVdeJ6oMUUr0uCWEU4YtkSrPf4SQCB6GJdBxVrtk1hdR_quGxf1V0zIkxaAulSi9aYoIXV-xzrl4/s1600/PauletteTavormina_Book2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkti-uGXu-cZz9thgx-Tt4cP7qc5rSmY1EC_94ok__ni-b1ptlKKRPhfbYkpARFdrBVdeJ6oMUUr0uCWEU4YtkSrPf4SQCB6GJdBxVrtk1hdR_quGxf1V0zIkxaAulSi9aYoIXV-xzrl4/s640/PauletteTavormina_Book2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8eMbsbXmDRVVi8ITVQDHnEAlbmUG747TGhaknleQxHOaBDg4iL6g1fx1RkQbdBl2h0iidGWXFEYEpxqllFPNX5Xhaw3pHEqxb5T_SuEDLKpk1WFF5qNiWCE3qxC0It_bPAWE06L_ZGg/s1600/PauletteTavormina_Book_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8eMbsbXmDRVVi8ITVQDHnEAlbmUG747TGhaknleQxHOaBDg4iL6g1fx1RkQbdBl2h0iidGWXFEYEpxqllFPNX5Xhaw3pHEqxb5T_SuEDLKpk1WFF5qNiWCE3qxC0It_bPAWE06L_ZGg/s640/PauletteTavormina_Book_1.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
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Do go and have a browse, and then make a note to look for the book.</div>
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More details can be found<b> <a href="http://www.paulettetavormina.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>or on Wikipedia.</div>
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More floral posts shortly! Until then, I hope you're all having a wonderful 2016!</div>
Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-51433503016162321382015-12-14T20:27:00.002-08:002015-12-15T03:41:42.634-08:00Joyful Things In 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This time last year, my partner and I decided to make a Christmas pact. We decided not to waste money on myriad gifts for each other, but to spend the money visiting <b>UNESCO World Heritage Sites </b>instead. (Last Christmas was spent at Angkor Wat and Siem Reap; still one of my favorite destinations. This February, it will be the Great Barrier Reef.) </div>
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Writing our <b>UNESCO Wish Lists</b> for 2016 and 2017, which include <b>Luang Prabang</b>, and <b>Praslin Island in the Seychelles</b> (the <b>Vallée de Mai </b>national park was reportedly the original 'Garden of Eden') was a small thing, but it made me stop and think about life, and what makes each of us happy? <i>(Thank goodness I have a partner who loves to travel.) </i>Contemplating the UNESCO lists also made me realize that, no matter how overwhelmed we may become from digesting all the content we're offered in The Information Age, there are still so many things out there to discover in the world. There are still so many things to inspire and delight us; things that are so beautiful they will, like Angkor Wat and the Seychelles, linger in our memories long after we experience them.</div>
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2016 is set to be a year of such things. Here are a few lovely things to anticipate in 2016. </div>
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As always, thank you for all the thoughtful and kind emails. I've loved reading every one of them, especially those from the Garden Tour girls, and look forward to staying in touch in 2016! Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and a happy, restful and joyful holiday season.</div>
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<i><b>(NB New additions to UNESCO's World Heritage List can be found <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/newproperties/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I love that Singapore's newly restored Botanic Garden has been added to the mix.)</b></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW HOTELS TO DREAM ABOUT</span></b></div>
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The new <b>NOMAD HOTEL LA, THE BEEKMAN in NEW YORK, </b>and <b>BLAKES SINGAPORE</b> are among the coolly glamorous hotels scheduled to open or begin development in 2016, but one of the most anticipated hotel openings is Six Senses' new resort <b>SIX SENSES ZIL PASYON</b><i> (above two images), </i>in the <b>SEYCHELLES.</b> </div>
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Set on the private island of <b>Felicity</b> (I love the name, plus that of nearby <b>Curieuse Island)</b>, it's a short boat journey from <b>La Digue</b> or <b>Praline </b>(more gorgeous names), but miles from the rest of civilization. <b>Six Senses</b> is becoming as well-known as<b> Aman Resorts</b> for its architectural designs and remote destinations, so this will likely be One To Save Up For.</div>
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There's a great list of the Hottest Luxury Hotels in the World opening in 2016 <b><a href="http://www.travelplusstyle.com/magazine/the-50-hottest-luxury-hotel-openings-of-2015" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </b></div>
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<i>(And if, like us, you don't have the budget for Six Senses, there are also lots of cheap guesthouses in the Seychelles too. As there are everywhere. It's difficult to find them, I know, but they're there.)</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A CERTAIN STORE ON FIFTH AVENUE</span></b></div>
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If you saw the much-talked-about documentary <b>SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORFS</b> (featuring some of the best quotes ever captured in a doco – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_tlLasDH3A" target="_blank"><b>LINK TO TRAILER HERE</b></a>), you're going to love the next in the series by filmmaker Matthew Miele. </div>
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It's about <b>Tiffany & Co.</b>, the jewelry store that started as a small stationary and gift shop more than 177 years ago, and eventually, with the help of Audrey Hepburn, a film and some good branding, became an international success. It stars some big names, including <b>Katie Couric, Baz Luhrmann, Rachel Zoe, Jessica Biel, and Jennifer Tilly</b>. Tiffany is on board, so the archive footage will be fascinating. </div>
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<b>No trailer yet. Released in cinemas early 2016.</b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Above pix of Tiffany Christmas windows for 2015)</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW FILM CAUSING A FUSS </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">(AND AN OSCAR CONTENDER)</span></b></div>
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<b>THE DANISH GIRL</b> is a beautiful film. A <i>beautiful</i> film. It's based on the true story of Lili Elbe, a pioneer in transgender history, and the woman torn between her loving marriage and her own needs and desires. It's a timely film, coming out in the wake of Caitlyn Jenner's story (and <i>Vanity Fair</i> cover), and it's well worth seeing, even if artistic films like this are not your thing. </div>
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<b>Eddie Redmayne</b> is superb as Lily, and up for a Golden Globe. He is even more moving in this than <i>My Week With Marilyn, Les Miserables</i> and<i> The Theory of Everything</i>. <b>Alicia Vikander </b>is also up for a Golden Globe. </div>
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If you missed the previews of this film in late 2015, it will undoubtedly be re-released in cinemas in early 2016, as the Oscar buzz about it is loud. (It's released in Australia in early 2016.) </div>
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d88APYIGkjk" target="_blank">TRAILER HERE</a>. Released in cinemas early 2016.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW (TOURING) CHANEL EXHIBITION</span></b></div>
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If you missed the <b>CHANEL EXHIBITION</b>, <b>Mademoiselle Privé, </b>at the <b>Saatchi Gallery in London</b> last month, the good news is it will be showing in Hong Kong early 2016 before traveling to other international cities. Billed as an 'enchanted voyage', the exhibition takes a historic look at the design of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and the contemporary direction the brand has taken under Karl Lagerfeld. </div>
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No news of venues or Hong Kong dates yet, but keep an eye on Chanel's website for details.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW GARDENS-IN-ART EXHIBITION</span></b></div>
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There's been a spate of books and exhibitions about the beautiful symbiosis between gardens and art. Even Buckingham Palace held an exhibition on the subject last year. The newest show to display the inspiration that gardens have had on art over the years is at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, from January to April 2016. <b>PAINTING THE MODERN GARDEN: MONET TO MATISSE</b> will feature the usual players, including ol' Claude, but it will also highlight the works of artists and gardeners like <b>Pierre Bonnard, Camille Pissarro </b>and <b>Wassily Kandinsky.</b> It will also tour afterwards, so keep an eye out for cities and dates.</div>
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Set to be a blockbuster exhibition of paint, petals and pure joy. </div>
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(There will no doubt be a book to accompany it, so look for it on Amazon.)</div>
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<b>Royal Academy of Arts, Mayfair. January 30—April 20, 2016.</b></div>
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Note: There's a great article about artists and gardening <b><a href="https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/monet-modern-garden-ann-dumas" target="_blank">HERE</a>,</b> and another one <b><a href="https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/six-of-the-best-artist-gardeners" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b> I loved hearing about Monet's horticultural expertise. His library was filled with gardening books and journals. Instructions sent to his chief gardener Félix Brueil in February 1900 included: <i>From the 15th to the 25th, lay the dahlias down to root, plant out those with shoots before I get back. In March sow the grass seeds, plant out the little nasturtiums, keep a close eye on the gloxinia, orchids etc., in the greenhouse, as well as the plants under frames. </i>Oh, if we only all had our own little Felix to do our weeding!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NEW (OLD) TV SERIES TO BUY FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON</span></b></div>
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Finally, while this isn't new for 2016, it's something to put on your Must-Watch Lists for the new year. A lovely reader told me about it, and I just loved the trailer! She says it's well worth watching. </div>
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It's a period drama called <b>THE TIME IN BETWEEN</b> (or type it's Spanish name—<b>EL TIEMPO ENTRE COSTURAS</b> into Google for best results), and it's about a young seamstress who rises to become an elite couturier and then a spy during the Spanish Civil War. </div>
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The film sets are as beautiful as the fashion and the dressmaking. With the success of the Australian film<b><i> The Dressmaker</i></b> with Kate Winslet, and <i><b>Dior and I</b></i>, I predict there will be more movies about fashion, seamstresses and behind-the-scenes in ateliers and studios. Let's hope so.</div>
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<b>TRAILER IS <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CfVkmaCPbE" target="_blank">HERE</a>. (It's wonderful!)</b></div>
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<b>Available via Amazon and other outlets.</b></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-49910463858482332372015-12-07T19:52:00.003-08:002015-12-07T20:28:01.293-08:00Gorgeous Design Books for your Christmas Wish List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">PARIS IN STYLE: THE NEW PETIT GUIDE TO PARIS</span></b></div>
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I didn't want to write about Paris during the recent coverage of the terrorist attacks, because I was so heartbroken for the city. (And I'm still a little heartbroken over my own father, too.) But I thought the best way to remember Paris was to celebrate her. Paris needs to be visited; it needs to be loved and embraced and remembered. If you haven't yet visited this sublime place, consider doing so in 2016. Because Paris needs you!</div>
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<b>PARIS IN STYLE (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Style-Janelle-McCulloch/dp/0522866999" target="_blank">LINK</a>) </b>was a wonderful book to write because it took me back to Paris, and to those places that will always remain in my heart. The gorgeous Parisian gardens and parks, the beautiful little independent boutiques and stores (including secret fashion and design bookshops), all the fantastic places to buy new and vintage designer labels, handbags and scarves (some of the vintage Hermès scarves are more beautiful than the modern versions), plus hundreds of other design secrets. (And lest you think it's all about high-end labels, there are guides to the flea markets and other affordable destinations, too. Since I can't afford Chanel either!)</div>
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However, it also features many Paris destinations that I've only just discovered these past few years, ranging from textile stores to enchanting and often tucked-away neighborhoods -- including a great neighborhood for architecture lovers that feels like a piece of pastoral France, with mini-chateaux and villas.</div>
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It's my little tribute to a city that still sparkles, even after all this horror.</div>
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A few page spreads are collaged here...</div>
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<b>PARIS IN STYLE. PUBLISHED BY MUP (Melbourne University Publishers). </b></div>
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<b>SEPT 2015.</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.mup.com.au/items/9780522866995" target="_blank">LINK HERE</a> or on AMAZON</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">GRACE: A NEW EDITION OF THE BESTSELLING MONOGRAPH</span></b></div>
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One of the most popular fashion books ever published was <b><i>Grace</i></b>; Grace Coddington's beautiful book about her life and fashion shoots at US <i><b>Vogue.</b></i> It was so popular that editions have been selling on Abe Books and eBay for up to $1000. Well now <b>Phaidon publishers</b>, in all their wisdom, have decided to buy the rights and re-publish it. And the new copies are being snapped up just as quickly as the old ones! It's come out just in time for Christmas, and Grace has been doing book signings in New York this past week. (I believe The Strand still has signed copies available?)</div>
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What isn't as well-known is that Grace is working on a follow-up to this illustrated monograph, which will be published <b>mid-2016</b>, and will feature <b><i>Vogue </i></b>fashion shoots from 2002 to the present day. <b><i>Vogue's </i></b>famous September issue (2016) will carry an extensive interview with Grace to promote the book's publication.</div>
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For those who love Grace and her talent and style, there's a lovely interview on Phaidon's website, where Grace reveals her aversion to social media and other humorous insights, including how her book has become a much-thumbed reference at the <i>Vogue </i>offices. "Everybody around is always coming and borrowing it and wanting to look at it again; everybody’s always referencing it. It’s been useful for that, because all of the shoots are dated and there’s an index in the back.”</div>
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The Phaidon interviews with Grace are <b><a href="http://au.phaidon.com/agenda/design/articles/2015/august/27/vogues-grace-coddington-talks-super-models-sewing-cosmetic-surgery-and-london-in-the-sixties/" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>and <b><a href="http://au.phaidon.com/agenda/design/articles/2015/september/03/vogues-grace-coddington-on-the-september-issue-seventies-china-and-eighties-new-york/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b> (Above images from Phaidon's website.)</div>
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<b>GRACE. PUBLISHED BY PHAIDON. </b></div>
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<b>DECEMBER 2015</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">LIFE IN SQUARES: CELEBRATING THE CENTENARY OF THE BLOOMSBURY SET</span></b></div>
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2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the Bloomsbury Group (not sure how, but it's a great marketing tool!), and already there are books and films and TV series being rolled out in anticipation of the Bloomy 'buzz'. Recently, there was the sumptuous and much-talked-about BBC series <b><i>Life in Squares,</i></b> which is now available on DVD. But if you can't find that, Amy Licence's book, <b><i>Living in Squares</i></b>, is just as compelling. The story is too complex for me to do justice in a few lines, but there's a great synopsis <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Living-Squares-Loving-Triangles-Bloomsbury/dp/1445645750" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </b><i>(There are also other titles about Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West on the same Amazon page.)</i></div>
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Still as fascinating as ever. (And the sets of the BBC series are as fantastic as the storyline!)</div>
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<b>LIVING IN SQUARES. AMBERLEY PUBLISHERS</b></div>
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<b>JULY 2015</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">GREAT GARDENS OF LONDON: A LUSH LOOK AT THE HORTICULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD</span></b></div>
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I want this book. <i>Badly.</i> It's beautiful. The images are lavish (many are double-page spreads), the gardens are lovely, and London, well, it has been my home and remains one of my favorite cities.</div>
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The best bit about the book is that authors Victoria Summerley, Hugo Rittson Thomas and Marianne Majors have managed to obtain permission to shoot many private gardens in the city, as well as some much-loved public ones. Accompanying the photographs are essays on the design and planting schemes that explain the designers’ inspiration, ideas and designs. </div>
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Just lovely.</div>
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<b>GREAT GARDENS OF LONDON. PUBLISHED BY FRANCES LINCOLN.</b></div>
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<b>OCT 2015</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">JULIA REED'S SOUTH: A SOUTHERN GUIDE TO GRAND ENTERTAINING</span></b></div>
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I love Julia Reed. Her writing is witty, warm and spiked with funny stories. Her home in the Garden District of New Orleans was magnificent too. And her book on Furlow Gatewood remains an all-time favourite. </div>
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This new book isn't out until 2016, but mark it on your Wish Lists; it's certain to be as riveting as the rest of her writing. Julia and fellow photographer Paul Costello have spent months shooting at various locations in the Deep South, including many gardens, and the images are just lush! </div>
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Look at the cover. Doesn't that make you want to visit the South?</div>
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<b>JULIA REED'S SOUTH. PUBLISHED BY RIZZOLI</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">LEE: A NEW LOOK AT LEE RADZIWILL</span></b></div>
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I can't say much about this new title as very little has been released, but the images are glorious and Lee Radziwill always makes for a great story. (Her life is one long, enthralling narrative.) What its publisher Assouline <i>has </i>revealed is that it follows on from Lee's best-selling <b><i>Happy Times</i></b>, recalling her friendships with the numerous cultural figures, from Rudolf Nureyev to Truman Capote.</div>
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Love the collage-style page spreads.</div>
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<b>LEE. PUBLISHED BY ASSOULINE</b></div>
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<b>DEC 2015.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6hGZeKHWNce33PWUQ_LRoV7SNcymv0BM7ErrZy7ijJ656MW4BlaAJ29jrULDljTCF9K_MulSLgUr_-rTgxpISo3GYJBTYQHCwtzsI-zlCYAb5ldx2g1kUqtcsur138mGkw0kTBPqGAc/s1600/MicheleBonan_JKCapri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6hGZeKHWNce33PWUQ_LRoV7SNcymv0BM7ErrZy7ijJ656MW4BlaAJ29jrULDljTCF9K_MulSLgUr_-rTgxpISo3GYJBTYQHCwtzsI-zlCYAb5ldx2g1kUqtcsur138mGkw0kTBPqGAc/s400/MicheleBonan_JKCapri.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MICHELE BONAN: A MONOGRAPH ABOUT THE DESIGN MIND BEHIND JK HOTELS</span></b></div>
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If you love the look of the JK Hotels in Capri, Rome, Florence and elsewhere (now Instagrammed and blogged to death), this is the book for you. It's a monograph of the talented designer Michele Bonan, the magnificent design mind behind these soothingly serene hideaways, as well as others such as the Marquis Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris.</div>
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A great one for fussy travelers and discerning design lovers. I can't wait to see a copy.</div>
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<b>MICHELE BONAN. PUBLISHED BY ASSOULINE</b></div>
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<b>DECEMBER 2015</b></div>
Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-1365333840572007012015-12-07T17:21:00.003-08:002016-04-07T00:28:35.612-07:00Images and Visuals: Behind The Scenes on an Illustrated Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i></i></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW3UtHXo0fryTzR3tGR1jo2mpehrWPkYhoWvcfivye3RzwTMg3Rs_0e_ToT0uZ43SZns42hKt-NqZtkqKg5Xw6du6bP-Utsr8CmNWd93MlR_J4OwAQ0KKZIdxwOSv6iFIlle_AkbIbXQ/s1600/JanelleMcCulloch_GardenPhotography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW3UtHXo0fryTzR3tGR1jo2mpehrWPkYhoWvcfivye3RzwTMg3Rs_0e_ToT0uZ43SZns42hKt-NqZtkqKg5Xw6du6bP-Utsr8CmNWd93MlR_J4OwAQ0KKZIdxwOSv6iFIlle_AkbIbXQ/s640/JanelleMcCulloch_GardenPhotography.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1uMA7_QvtDB1iduvTvn-2NHhrPNunvkSzRSAFvwwbcQeeieWAt6ESVyc9UPOz--PJVvTXMsYCSwM-raD7uusXOyZQjezkGw4XqmlgTjWfouAnYxyqumwoaD_tNm_tWUHCIjCDTWAYGk/s1600/LondonSpread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1uMA7_QvtDB1iduvTvn-2NHhrPNunvkSzRSAFvwwbcQeeieWAt6ESVyc9UPOz--PJVvTXMsYCSwM-raD7uusXOyZQjezkGw4XqmlgTjWfouAnYxyqumwoaD_tNm_tWUHCIjCDTWAYGk/s640/LondonSpread.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There's no getting around it: we are now firmly ensconced in the visual age. Where once it was all about the word, today it's all about the image. Photographs have become as much a part of our lives as the social media tools that capture them.<br />
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This is perhaps because, in a world cluttered by information, visuals <i>simplify </i>life. They cut across languages and borders, not just geographically and linguistically but also aesthetically. They are the default alphabet of our modern life. </div>
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In fact, our visual intelligence is now so refined that many of us are communicating largely by images rather than words. We are even able to recall the images we've seen, much like conversations. An ex-<i>Vogue </i>friend in Sydney has a remarkable recall: she can look at an old image and pinpoint which designer / website / book / magazine / fashion collection it came from, OR the era / year / book / film / designer it was inspired by. (From what I hear, <i>Vogue</i> staffers had to have such encyclopedic minds. They were all walking reference libraries.)<br />
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<b>CLICK ON ALL IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM</b><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Top grid of images from my website. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Second grid of images above from a forthcoming London guide book, currently in production.)</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMVwjx6SDZhjDC9Qeszq9W0FuvsdUJ_hwKo8J4BqKWuAxJ_-oHqw5Rk-v7ut4CBvr4netAlAf_zFZy58_Ue3idn8lrWkFyri8bVhWLSh-uTK5FlrwCt_RloNUlEbsxAw6EYTTUbbVOFk/s1600/ILoveYourStyle_AmandaBrooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMVwjx6SDZhjDC9Qeszq9W0FuvsdUJ_hwKo8J4BqKWuAxJ_-oHqw5Rk-v7ut4CBvr4netAlAf_zFZy58_Ue3idn8lrWkFyri8bVhWLSh-uTK5FlrwCt_RloNUlEbsxAw6EYTTUbbVOFk/s640/ILoveYourStyle_AmandaBrooks.jpg" width="369" /></a></div>
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I love the beautiful and refreshingly original website / blog by former New York creative director-turned-author <b>Amanda Brooks</b>, who wrote the book<b> <a href="http://iloveyourstyle.com/" target="_blank">I LOVE YOUR STYLE</a>. (<a href="http://iloveyourstyle.com/category/fashion/" target="_blank">LINK HERE</a>) </b>Her newly re-designed layout is wonderfully image-rich but it's the way she configures the content around the visuals that's really inspiring. Just look at her 'visual board' on writer / gardener <b>Vita Sackville-West</b> above. Genius.<br />
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Amanda is almost religious about images -- her photographs of life at her Oxfordshire home Fair Green Farm are pure poetry for the weary, visual-ed-out soul -- and because of this, she has just picked up a new book deal with Penguin. Clearly, her discerning eye for images has caught the eye of some discerning editor, somewhere.<br />
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A few other writers, designers and bloggers who are skillful at imagery include <b>Ben Pentreath </b>(<b><a href="http://www.pentreath-hall.com/inspiration" target="_blank">LINK HERE</a>;</b> scroll down to his garden pix for the best eye candy), <b>Tory Burch, Mark D. Sikes and India Hicks.</b></div>
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In the following paras, I'll show you just how influential images have become in our lives, particularly in the world of books. (Certainly illustrated books.) You'll see why visuals really are leading the way in the modern world.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUJoZbIbdkit6AieQAdsdyO_fFlalx_zVaxY_y5b1wxCAAIz13dKf6uEtHXQFrhAi8-6V-mUFA20AKq7UYkZjE3v7mA7eWZJp_236MMLdctAKrU3sYXVNUEuM3465ayDrACcXXciwbpw/s1600/VogueLiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUJoZbIbdkit6AieQAdsdyO_fFlalx_zVaxY_y5b1wxCAAIz13dKf6uEtHXQFrhAi8-6V-mUFA20AKq7UYkZjE3v7mA7eWZJp_236MMLdctAKrU3sYXVNUEuM3465ayDrACcXXciwbpw/s640/VogueLiving.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">IN THE BEGINNING...</span></b></div>
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For a long time, I was a word girl. A journalist. Visuals were something the photo editors took care of Then, I began contributing articles to <b>Australian <i>Vogue Living </i></b>as a freelancer (<i>not </i>as the editor, as stated in a publisher's blurb recently). The <b>Melbourne editor, Helen Redmond,</b> was famously lovely, but I'll always remember something she once said to me. We were talking about <i>Vogue </i>and <i>Vogue Living's </i>high production values and she said that any intern who worked for them needed to be so aesthetically savvy that they could be trusted to go to the markets and find "ten perfect potatoes", if the need arose. (This was in the days when <i>Vogue Travel and Entertaining </i>was part of the Vogue stable.) Isn't that fantastic? I've always remembered that. <b>Ten Perfect Potatoes.</b> It was the design version of ISO 9001:2015. </div>
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It was then that I realized that the 'look' of something can be as important as the story and the words around it.</div>
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Now I remembered this quirky <i>Vogue</i> mantra recently because for the past few weeks I've been trying to design several books. And often I've felt I've not been living up to the 'Perfect Potato' standard. </div>
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Here's how I got through.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUuv7F01_xdOauc5Z1r71ixxQqsa17I_09OXzqpwNt8h342ie2oGvmXn-NfJY7iPcCwHyq8eEw-aYknTOpWa0oQCrVDYeI8Hyig33jYztTKtCFUHR7pRfYELV3m-q16MyoCWi-UsLLeE/s1600/RobynLea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="561" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUuv7F01_xdOauc5Z1r71ixxQqsa17I_09OXzqpwNt8h342ie2oGvmXn-NfJY7iPcCwHyq8eEw-aYknTOpWa0oQCrVDYeI8Hyig33jYztTKtCFUHR7pRfYELV3m-q16MyoCWi-UsLLeE/s640/RobynLea2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kx7oXQ-wafyqXAv2VhiKzDxSJ34arCpnIdaUmhNv9oRJcWCuEL1Zz6bZTyvREUPcZMXkK4uDXUu2lNkfrAy_q_dlv6NQLtMPSvl3iwx7iUFuyiE-gAVTPAfFADUPS0lwKLWhpeaxeyA/s1600/RobynLea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kx7oXQ-wafyqXAv2VhiKzDxSJ34arCpnIdaUmhNv9oRJcWCuEL1Zz6bZTyvREUPcZMXkK4uDXUu2lNkfrAy_q_dlv6NQLtMPSvl3iwx7iUFuyiE-gAVTPAfFADUPS0lwKLWhpeaxeyA/s640/RobynLea3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">STEP ONE: STUDY THE BEST</span></b></div>
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When you're struggling with anything at all, study the best to see how the pros do it. One of the best photographers and visual manipulators around (in my insignificant opinion) is the New York-based Australian photographer Robyn Lea. </div>
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Robyn's book <b><i>The Milan Book,</i></b> above, is a visual work of art. A publishing masterpiece. </div>
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Here are some page designs, above and below... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyA_DXBzxWlUmyxxRBJMqcaMv_H1I0C3rz8y6xcV9Ix8Y5-R6IT6sTjULM9epA-3LAxcsWxiod2RNxZEU0l-HWqn0p6sYL3Fi4MbwPB73zERbL7N4qmD8YWyu7k9AJTU3S89HAcSIc_E/s1600/RobynLea_Spread3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyA_DXBzxWlUmyxxRBJMqcaMv_H1I0C3rz8y6xcV9Ix8Y5-R6IT6sTjULM9epA-3LAxcsWxiod2RNxZEU0l-HWqn0p6sYL3Fi4MbwPB73zERbL7N4qmD8YWyu7k9AJTU3S89HAcSIc_E/s640/RobynLea_Spread3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There's a fantastic video about how the book was produced from Robyn <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/736916264/milan-discovering-food-fashion-and-family-in-a-pri/description" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>, but there's also fascinating post about how it was designed <b><a href="http://www.fontegrafica.it/en/news/2014-3/7/inside-the-product-the-milan-book?lang=en" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b> </div>
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The pages of this sumptuous tome feature (wait for it) <b>varnishes, laser cuts, UV varnishes, almond scratch and sniff varnishes, hot stamps, reliefs and bas-reliefs, black silk screen prints details, letterpress inserts </b>and<b> silver laminations</b>, among other effects.</div>
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Incredible. And that's not even touching on the beautifully composed photographs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eiAU9MGRnJciBX8-ZbHsEqSurq_5_SX8Glycfnrq5G80_FenhNKX3b3KFVh_td5d2-LAKiEQszu5LuBmhb8S74bYGWtPkVxONYiJnewCmPg4iL7l80wN3eCy50j3-W_BEPudqavc2_A/s1600/DinnerwithJacksonPollock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eiAU9MGRnJciBX8-ZbHsEqSurq_5_SX8Glycfnrq5G80_FenhNKX3b3KFVh_td5d2-LAKiEQszu5LuBmhb8S74bYGWtPkVxONYiJnewCmPg4iL7l80wN3eCy50j3-W_BEPudqavc2_A/s640/DinnerwithJacksonPollock.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPXkAjKRUN9HYAzWYpKIM79LxHKZq43XoFOIoj1wwGiXkgTVuDYt2dgTyKz18Cvm9ULwsoBRXmX6znDFR5IhZi8817VOyOt0_09hi0ojxIhFJZUJzAqih7IgOcxDLl0Y3yrSILJLLNWo/s1600/DinnerwithJacksonPollock2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPXkAjKRUN9HYAzWYpKIM79LxHKZq43XoFOIoj1wwGiXkgTVuDYt2dgTyKz18Cvm9ULwsoBRXmX6znDFR5IhZi8817VOyOt0_09hi0ojxIhFJZUJzAqih7IgOcxDLl0Y3yrSILJLLNWo/s640/DinnerwithJacksonPollock2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Robyn (who is a new friend, so I hope she doesn't mind all this!) has also recently produced the bestseller <i><b>Dinner With Jackson Pollock: Recipes, Art & Nature,</b></i> published by Assouline (2015).</div>
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This is another extraordinarily beautiful book where the images have -- as you'd imagine with a book about Pollock -- taken centre-stage. </div>
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I particularly love the juxtaposition of paints / pastels and receipts / food. </div>
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It's beautiful, and very, very clever. No wonder it's been a good seller.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1eJruCofeeieeZRpiPmIO_eSQccsZoeGC0QtaPYzc26m-mZVlpyKB9vZwwoudRkpn4pHuVGdGP2EsHZy5taxptjq6810hHPGJZd-tX0uKvVoDNAod6BylMxQzmqUv3wCUhHKaT3vwRg/s1600/LifeinSquares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1eJruCofeeieeZRpiPmIO_eSQccsZoeGC0QtaPYzc26m-mZVlpyKB9vZwwoudRkpn4pHuVGdGP2EsHZy5taxptjq6810hHPGJZd-tX0uKvVoDNAod6BylMxQzmqUv3wCUhHKaT3vwRg/s640/LifeinSquares.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">STEP TWO: RESEARCH VISUALS; UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WORK</span></b></div>
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Now it's one thing to look at pretty pix; it's another thing to understand why they affect us so much? One of the reasons is that images tell a story, mostly through their composition but also through their layers, colours, patterns and lines. The best images are as carefully put together as any photo shoot directed by Grace Coddington.<br />
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Look at the stills for the BBC's new series on the Bloomsbury Group, <b><i>A Life in Squares,</i></b> above. I loved this image because it shows everything from the wicker chairs loved by the Edwardians to the pragmatic colour palette preferred by writers and artists and gardeners at this time. Images like this offer invaluable insights into how visuals are put together, whether for a book or a film. They show how the designers and producers are aiming for integrity as much as beauty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9GQ0WaSuyqvlDsvRZNq8AuYfu4mEKMO1TUg6iE5asISzLaXySfr_BR_sEYGPCC1pXYWZ282MUM10ACoMzU_sVopV9HnUa9sHl9fqAUc9CtUEyHvv9o_1vm18BvcRKoS4zWb18_YYC-4/s1600/CharlestonMag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9GQ0WaSuyqvlDsvRZNq8AuYfu4mEKMO1TUg6iE5asISzLaXySfr_BR_sEYGPCC1pXYWZ282MUM10ACoMzU_sVopV9HnUa9sHl9fqAUc9CtUEyHvv9o_1vm18BvcRKoS4zWb18_YYC-4/s640/CharlestonMag.jpg" width="457" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">STEP THREE: COLLATE YOUR OWN FILES AND PILES</span></b><br />
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The next step is to gather your own inspiration, for whatever project you're working on. (Or even for your own personal files.) You may think you'll never need your carefully curated visuals for <i>anything. </i>But I'll show you why you will.<br />
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Recently, I've been designing the pages for my illustrated biography about <b>Joan Lindsay and Picnic at Hanging Rock. </b>The biography covers the years 1896 to 1980, but the main section focuses on the Edwardian years, so I had to understand Edwardian aesthetics and even Edwardian colour palettes. The BBC series, <i style="font-weight: bold;">A Life in Squares, </i>above, helped to clarify the 'style' of writers and artists in this age, and the lovely <b><i>Charleston </i></b>magazine further confirmed the style. (Isn't this a gorgeous cover?)<br />
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I then crystallized this colour palette using roses from our garden. (I was dead-heading one morning, and they seemed too pretty to waste! This rose page eventually became the Acknowledgement page.) </div>
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Then I came across these visuals on my Instagram feed <i>(left image from Carolyn Quartermaine's Instagram; right via Rivkah1981's Instagram)</i>, which showed just how beautiful the colours green and yellow can be. (NB Yellow is set to be <i>big </i>in fashion in 2016.) I realized then that yellow would brighten some of the pages of this biography, especially those that featured old sepia photos, as sepia photos can often look 'dull' if too many are stacked together.<br />
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Yellow and green are also the colours of Australia, so they seemed fitting for a biography about a major Australian author and her iconic Australian novel. (They are also the colours of the Australian countryside in summer, which is when <i>Picnic at Hanging Rock </i>was set.)</div>
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But even then, the <i>shade </i>of yellow was wrong. This is the title page. The daisies were a reference to picnics, but it was all <i>wrong.</i> (The ferns are a mural in Joan Lindsay's writing room.) This was an early page design that was relegated to the bin.</div>
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So then, I went back to that old fail-safe: the collage. </div>
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I ended up configuring some simple, pared-back collages that featured Joan and people she knew -- Sir Laurence Olivier; the Murdochs; Dame Nellie Melba -- and the Edwardian picnics she went on as a girl to Hanging Rock. But you can see that it still featured the greens and golds, albeit in a softer way.</div>
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In the end, the book featured an unusual palette: <b>leaf green, yellow/gold, pale pink, plum, sky blue</b> and <b>beige/grey </b>(for the old photographs). I would have never thought it would work, but it does, because they're not only the colours of Joan's <b>Edwardian childhood, </b>when she set <i>Picnic at Hanging Rock</i>, but also the colours of the <b>countryside </b>where she lived as an adult; the sky; the landscapes, and her beloved garden and the flowers.</div>
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So you can see how images and visuals come into play in all sorts of different ways. If you really want to see how the professionals do it, however, have a look at the wonderful behind-the-scenes videos about the design of <b><i>The Milan Book</i></b>, by Robyn Lea, (outlined above), which show the detail that goes into designing books. Of course, sometimes it doesn't all go to plan. I hated one of my recent guidebooks, especially the headers! But you live and learn. Design is also a subjective thing. Certain images appeal to certain people, while other images take a while to like. And that's what makes the visual world so interesting. We're all on a vertical learning curve in this education of aesthetics. The Perfect Potato, indeed.</div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-40845679464028788192015-11-05T11:10:00.002-08:002015-11-11T16:00:49.352-08:00New and Old, in New York and New Orleans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>INSTAGRAM LINK – </b></div>
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<b><a href="http://instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author" target="_blank">http://instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author</a></b></div>
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Last week, I spent a few days in <b>New York City</b> and<b> New Orleans</b> for work. I've always wanted to visit <b>Nola </b>after reading so much about its history, its mystery <i>(did you see the <b>American Horror Story </b>series set here last year with Jessica Lange?)</i>, its gracious architecture, and its cheeky, slightly wicked Southern charm and humor, not to mention its killer cocktails.<br />
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"It's like a cross between Key West and Charleston, except with more alcohol, and fewer rules," said a friend. I wasn't sure what he meant, but it sounded good? I loved Key West and Charleston. Savannah, too. So it's like a hedonistic hybrid of all three? I asked him. My friend just looked at me. "NOLA is like<i> nothing </i>on this earth," he said, trying to do a Southern accent but failing. "You're gonna have a <i>whole lotta stories</i> after you've been to Nola!"<br />
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He then told me how the city has gathered a swag of prestigious <b>James Beard Awards</b> for its restaurants in the past two years, including <b>Best New Restaurant </b>for <b>Pêche.</b> With the buzz about the food, the media attention on the architecture (<b>Sara Ruffin Costello's house</b> always seems to be in the <i>New York Times</i> or some other blog), and the general decadence of the <b>French Quarter</b>, the place seemed to be jumping like a feathered entrant in the famous Mardi Gras parade. It was time, I thought, to head <i>down south. </i>I could already feel the bad accent coming on.<br />
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<b>{CLICK ON PIX TO ENLARGE THEM}</b></div>
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So here are some snaps from a few <b><i>louche luxe </i>days and nights in New York and New Orleans </b>-- and some great names for your address book. </div>
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If you haven't been to either of these memorable cities, perhaps 2016 is the year to do it. Both of these places are experiencing a creative revival of sorts, with new and innovative restaurants, hotels, stores and businesses opening by the month. I loved them both. I just wish I had more time in them than a few days.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE GREGORY:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A BEAUTIFUL NEW HOTEL IN NEW YORK'S FLOURISHING FASHION DISTRICT</span></b></div>
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There are many startlingly beautiful new hotels in New York, including <b>The Baccarat</b>, but I loved this sweet boutique hideaway, where the staff were as engaging as the decor. Recently renovated and renamed <b>The Gregory </b><i>(</i><i>it's very fashionable to use gentleman's names as hotel brands now)</i>, it's tucked around the corner from the Empire State in the rapidly changing <b>Fashion District</b>, which -- along with the Flatiron area -- is the hot new neighborhood in Manhattan right now, judging by the hotels springing up like bagel carts on every street corner.<br />
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<b>The Gregory's </b>whimsical interior reflects the haberdashery and passementerie of the stores around it, with vintage sewing machines, elegantly upholstered armchairs and prints of old <i>Vogue</i> patterns on the walls. The rooms feature beautiful beds with piping-edged linen, black-and-white subway-tiled bathrooms with baths, and surprisingly large walk-in closets. It's a hotel <i>tailor-made</i> for fashion lovers, and the location is one of the best in Manhattan. Good rates too. I nabbed a lovely room for less than $300/night, inc taxes.<br />
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<b>The Gregory</b></div>
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<b>42 West 35th Street, New York</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.thegregoryhotelnewyork.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.thegregoryhotelnewyork.com</b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BOOKS, AND MORE BOOKS</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">(AND A FEW FLOWERS)</span></b></div>
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This trip was primarily a business trip, but there is nothing boring about seeing books all day long, especially the covetable tomes lining the offices of <b>Rizzoli's headquarters </b>like glamorous three-dimensional wallpaper.</div>
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Both Rizzoli's head office and its new <b>Rizzoli bookstore in the Flatiron </b>are beautiful beyond words, but it was the <b>Strand's</b> tiny bookshop in the corner of the <b>Club Monaco </b>store that won me over. It's an irresistible space that combines a charming florist with a sanctuary of coloured spines and new design titles. The scent was intoxicating. Pages and petals together... why don't more retailers think of that? <i>(NB They seemed to have taken out the Dior-grey hatboxes and ornate black tables and replaced them with marble-topped florist's benches, but it's still lovely, and allows more space for all the bouquets.)</i></div>
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I also loved visited the <b>Flower District </b>around the corner, where I picked up these stunning long-stemmed mauve lilies for my new editor. The Flower District has shrunk in recent years, but there is still a joyous atmosphere about the place. It's a scented way to spend an hour on a sunny morning. <i>(Tip: Most of the stores are wholesale, but if you offer cash, they'll gladly sell you a bouquet.)</i></div>
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<b>Club Monaco (and The Strand's tiny outpost bookstore)</b></div>
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<b>160 5th Avenue, New York.</b></div>
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<b>Flower District</b></div>
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<b>West 28th Street, between 6th and 7th Streets.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE BUZZ ABOUT </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>BELLPORT</b></span></div>
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The <b>Hamptons end of Long Island</b> tends to polarize people. Some people prefer the quieter coves of <b>Shelter Island and Sag Harbor</b>. But on this trip I discovered a new destination: the elegantly understated enclave of <b>Bellport</b>, halfway up Long Island. </div>
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Now Bellport isn't a new thing: <b>Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, Isabella Rossellini and Thomas O'Brien</b> <b>(Aero)</b> are just a few who live in this quiet, mostly rural hideaway. (Thomas O'Brien is opening a new store here in 2016, and lives in a spectacular converted schoolhouse nearby.) But recently Bellport seems to be gaining followers, many of whom are decamping from increasingly crowded Sag Harbour or Southampton up the road. </div>
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I was lucky enough to spend some time at <b>Tricia Foley's</b> famous house here, which has been featured in countless magazines and also in her new book <b><i>Life | Style </i></b>(just out). This was her sitting room, above; a gracious space of slipcovered sofas, sofa rugs, irresistible design books, and intriguing collections of antiques. If only more hotels looked like this. Somebody give Miss Tricia a hotel to design. </div>
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More images from Tricia's home, including her enviable flower room and laundry, above, her library and office (at top), and her enchanting boat house (below). </div>
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More luscious images can be seen in her book <b><i>Life | Style (Rizzoli).</i></b></div>
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<b>www.rizzoli.com</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeV2lUtGJ1ZmWqttID9ZOyg-uBvurPilPq0hFZh2JdZsqX-5M8-jbhhg_MGX5f-dRrck7gFuDvOyMtpeCTRICG6PpXTe9rK03P60v1LwIiFBSgy4jy3RXM6xd-tGXy7VQtGd7CrKDgOA/s1600/QandCHotel_NewOrleans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeV2lUtGJ1ZmWqttID9ZOyg-uBvurPilPq0hFZh2JdZsqX-5M8-jbhhg_MGX5f-dRrck7gFuDvOyMtpeCTRICG6PpXTe9rK03P60v1LwIiFBSgy4jy3RXM6xd-tGXy7VQtGd7CrKDgOA/s400/QandCHotel_NewOrleans.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE Q AND C IN NEW ORLEANS</span></b></div>
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There hasn't been a lot of media about New Orleans's hotels, perhaps because most of them fall between the classic, balconied charmers and the boring business brands. Well, the <b>Q&C</b> is neither. It's a new interpretation of New Orleans, and it's a design darling that's winning a lot of design fans. Named after the old <b>Queen and Crescent tramcar</b>, it's a superbly decorated haven that features handsome grey flannel-covered wingback sofas, piles of design books to browse through, pressed-tin ceilings, curious antiques and quirky artwork (I loved the old maps), and a palette of white, chocolate and marle-grey. </div>
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It's in the Business District, around the corner from the equally sophisticated, all-white <b>International Hotel,</b> but it's a five-minute walk from the French Quarter. (The separation means it's devoid of the noise and clatter of the latter.) The downstairs parlour (above), and adjoining lounge are so comfy, most guests settle in for the evening with a drink and their iPad and never bother going to their rooms. Rooms are spacious, too. A perfect hotel, in every way. I loved it.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><b>The Q&C</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>344 Camp St, New Orleans, Louisiana. </b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.qandc.com/" target="_blank">www.qandc.com</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE PHARMACY MUSEUM</span></b></div>
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You may think a museum set in an old French pharmacy, with real apothecary bottles, would be, well, odd. Perhaps even macabre? But <b>The Pharmacy Museum </b>is fascinating. The cabinetry alone is worth seeing, but it's all the old lotions and potions that will really make you go gaga (in a good way). Don't miss the upstairs area, where the white shelves are usually groaning with fantastic exhibits. The rear courtyard is lovely, too. An unexpected treasure in the middle of the French Quarter.</div>
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<b>The Pharmacy Museum</b></div>
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<b>514 Chatres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.pharmacymuseum.org/" target="_blank"><b>www.pharmacymuseum.org</b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NAPOLEON HOUSE</span></b></div>
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My favourite restaurant in New Orleans wasn't the celebrated <b>Commander's Palace</b> (cute striped awnings, but slightly too upmarket for a quickie lunchtime visit), or even gorgeous <b>Galatoire's,</b> but the cutely rustic, just-throw-those-pictures-on-the-wall-and-toss-the-chairs-around Napoleon House (above right). This place <i>defines</i> the word 'patina'. The walls are crumbling and nothing's straight, but the atmosphere is pure Southern charm. Even the owner wears an old-fashioned bow tie. Grab one of the tables in the courtyard or beside a French door opening to the street and watch the world go by. It's New Orleans as you'd imagined.</div>
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<b>Napoleon House</b></div>
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<b>500 Chatres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.napoleonhouse.com/" target="_blank">www.napoleonhouse.com</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">GARDEN TOURS OF NEW ORLEANS</span></b></div>
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I've been longing to do a garden tour of NOLA's famous <b>Garden District</b> for years. But garden tours are <i>very</i> hard to organize -- I only do small tours with friends now -- and so I'm always looking for tours offered by other people, to see how they do it and to also take the easy seat for a change! </div>
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Well, I did a garden tour of the French Quarter on the first day and it was<i> terrible.</i> So the second day, I tried one of <b>Bill Noble's tours, called Le Monde Creole</b>, which promised to focus on secret gardens of the French Quarter. What a inspiring guide! We wandered into private courtyards (with permission), sat by cooling fountains or under grand palms and learned about not only the architecture and gardens but also the women of the city, including Marie Laveau, who have all done so much to influence and create its character. There's another <b>annual tour of private gardens of the French Quarter</b> run by <b>Patio Planters</b>, but <b>Le Monde Creole's </b>tours are held everyday. If you love gardens, tag along: it's really special.</div>
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Afterwards, you can either find another tour of the <b>Garden District </b>(above, right; there are many tours of this neighborhood), or just wander the streets yourself, as I did, to see the grand mansions and impeccable grounds.</div>
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<b>Le Monde Creole</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.mondecreole.com/" target="_blank">www.mondecreole.com</a></b></div>
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<b>{CLICK ON PIX TO ENLARGE THEM}</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A LITTLE BIT OF VENICE IN LA</span></b></div>
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On the way, I stopped in LA to visit friends in Los Feliz, and decided to stay at a place I'd never been before: <b>Venice Beach</b>. </div>
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A friend had recommended the quaint, little-known <b>Venice Beach House </b>(above), which has rooms for $150/night, and is virtually on the beach (Australians love it). Well, I just adored it. It's one of the original beach houses of the area, and still has a wonderful old Arts and Crafts feel to it. It's more of a private mansion than a hotel (if you don't like sharing a bathroom, opt for one of the suites), but the upside is that staff are like family. There's afternoon tea served at three, free beach towels, and enticing spots to sit and read in the glorious garden.</div>
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Best of all, it was around the corner from both the <b>Venice Canals,</b> which feature some of the prettiest cottages in LA (they were a feature of the film <b><i>Valentine's Day</i></b> with Ashton Kutcher), and the up-and-coming <b>Abbot Kinney Boulevard</b>, which has some of the coolest shops in the city. </div>
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Of course, there are still parts of Venice Beach that are dubious -- the section between VB and Santa Monica is one to avoid -- but the southern end of VB, around the canals and Abbott Kinney, is well worth a wander. The gardens here are the loveliest things to see; every cottage on the Venice Canals is different, and you can spend hours peeking over all the picket fences. It's a somewhat secret part of LA. And who knew there were many of those left?</div>
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<b>Venice Beach House</b></div>
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<b>15 30th Avenue, Venice Beach, Los Angeles</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.venicebeachhouse.com/" target="_blank">www.venicebeachhouse.com</a></b></div>
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And now I'm back home again, back to shooting oil paintings and floral still lives for a book. The bag is unpacked, the garden is flowering after all the rain, and life seems a little gentler again...</div>
Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-42937506213803464822015-10-05T19:34:00.004-07:002015-10-06T18:57:50.384-07:00Looking Ahead to The New Pretty in 2016 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's a shift happening in the fashion and design world. It's almost imperceptible, but it's there, like a gentle southern breeze quietly blowing through open doors and windows of a room on a hot, muggy afternoon. It's a shift away from austere lines, sharp edges and fierce minimalism in favor of pretty, witty and whimsical. Some are calling it <b>The New Pretty</b>, but I think it has more depth than that title suggests: there's a nod to sweetness and cheekiness, yes, but if you look closer there's also a thoughtful elegance lingering underneath. It's a softer, more glamorous aesthetic that harks back to a 1950s-style sophistication. And it's showing up not just in books, interiors and fashion, but also hotels. Just look at the design waves that the new <b>Malliouhana Hotel in Anguilla </b><i>(above),</i> the <b>Sujan Rajmahal Palace hotel in Jaipur, </b>the<b> Only You Hotel in Madrid, </b>and the <b>Ham Yard Hotel in London </b>have made in the international media this year.<br />
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And so I thought I'd post a few things from <b>The New Pretty Movement,</b> to lift your spirits from this week's reflective post.<br />
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A heartfelt thanks, too, to all those who emailed or privately Instagrammed me with kind letters and gracious notes. I was overwhelmed, and deeply grateful. And to all those who have recently lost or are facing health issues with their own fathers <i>(isn't it strange how this year has affected so many?)</i>, I offer one word: <i>Love</i>. Give your Dad LOTS of love! This is a not a time for negativity or regrets or even recriminations. It is a time to celebrate the life we've all had, and to remember how lucky we are. I think of that <i>all the time</i> when I travel; how fortunate I am.<i> </i>Gratitude is a grand thing. It puts you back in your place, prevents you complaining too much, and redirects your focus from looking down and frowning to looking up, with a wry grin. We need to remind ourselves--and the people we love--that life is wonderful. So here are a few wonderful things to lift the spirits in your world this week.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">DIANA VREELAND: BRINGING GLAMOUR BACK</span></b></div>
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<b>Diana Vreeland </b>would be pleased as alcoholic punch that her name and style are being revived after so many years. Her grandson <b>Alexander Vreeland</b> is creating an entire industry out of his celebrated grandmother via the <b>Diana Vreeland Estate,</b> and Diana's fans are embracing the memorabilia, much of which will undoubtedly become collectors' items. Alexander's first project was the hugely successful book <b><i>Diana Vreeland Memos: The Vogue Years, </i></b>and now he's following it up with the equally gorgeous <b><i>Bazaar Years</i></b>. </div>
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Featuring one of the prettiest covers published this year, this beautiful book is a look at Diana's design legacy while at <b><i>Harper's Bazaar</i></b> magazine from 1936 to 1962; perhaps her most productive period. Like the first book, it's as witty as Diana, but this one is less about her famous memos and more about the fashion, magazine covers and page layouts. It would make for a lovely Christmas gift.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.rizzoliusa.com/" target="_blank">www.rizzoliusa.com</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CHANEL'S HOUSE RETURNS TO CHANEL</span></b></div>
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<i>“The garden was equally simple, planted with lavender and rosemary and all around, the smoky light filtering through centuries-old olives. Chanel had a wonderful sense of luxury and great taste.” </i></div>
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<i>—</i>Roderick Cameron, on Chanel's French Riviera hideaway, 'La Pausa'.</div>
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Some interesting news has just come out of France: the <b>House of Chanel </b>has just purchased <b>Coco's Riviera hideaway, 'La Pausa'</b>, so it can stay within the Chanel company. <i>(There are few photos to show Chanel's house on the French Riviera, so I've used a Google map, which will double as a helpful travel aid for those going there next year who want to do a little fashion walking tour of their own! Click the map to make it larger.) </i></div>
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La Pausa was <b>Chanel's</b> private retreat. She bought it with the <b>Duke of Westminster</b> (rumour is he bought it for her), so they could hide from the world. (The Duke's crown motif from the Westminster coat of arms remains in La Pausa's entrance lighting.) Ironically, Chanel didn't spend a lot of sleeping time in it: she maintained a separate home near the town of Menton with a view of her 10-acre empire. But she adored it. She adored the gardens, the simplicity of the interior, and of course the views of the blue sea. (The white of the house and the navy of the Med made up one of her favorite color palettes.) Where she deviated from her normal monochromatic style, though, was in La Pausa's boudoir, which was a poem to <b>pink.</b> Pink draping dominated the boiserie suite, and when the new owners bought the house, they maintained her bedroom exactly as she had left it</div>
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Which just goes to show: most women — even the minimalistic Chanel — love some kind of pretty.</div>
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It's not known what the House of Chanel plans to do with La Pausa, but I suspect Mr Lagerfeld will be eying it for his future couture hows. How fortunate will <i>those </i>guests be?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ASSOULINE'S TRIBUTE TO RAJASTHAN</span></b></div>
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Assouline is publishing some beautiful new titles between now and the end of the year, and this is one of the most anticipated. <b><i>Rajasthan Style</i></b> is a glamorous ode to an extraordinary place, which is more popular than ever with the design crowd. In Assouline's words: "In Rajasthan one encounters marvel after marvel. One is surprised by beauty in all its forms – real or imaginary – and enchantment at every turn..." </div>
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A travel journal on a truly grand scale (it's more of a tome than a travel book), this photographic opus highlights the dramatic beauty of the people, landscapes and places of this legendary region of India. Far more than a sourcebook of architecture, interiors, textiles, tiles, light and landscapes, it's an homage to one of the most inspiring, design-filled corners of the globe, and shows why Rajasthan continues to fascinate many of us, year after year.</div>
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<b>(Published December 1, 2015)</b></div>
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<b>www.assouline.com</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE SPECTACLE OF THE SUJAN RAJMAHAL PALACE </span></b></div>
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If there was one hotel that astounded everyone this year, it was this: the <b>Sujan Rajmahal in Jaipur.</b> A fantasy of color, it reflected the theater of India in every corner. If you're a fan of white, this may not be the place for you. (Try the lovely Taj Lake Palace Udaipur instead.) But if you embrace colour, put it on your Travel List for 2016.</div>
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<a href="http://www.sujanluxury.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.sujanluxury.com</b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">HERMES' ODE TO GARDENS</span></b></div>
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This grand French fashion company is most famous for its scarves, and this one, entitled '<b>Winter Garden' (Jardin d'Hiver) </b>is arguably one of the most beautiful designs ever printed. It's a lush layering of parterres, palms, orangeries, and even pineapples, all mixed into an intricate garden scene. Every time you look, there's some lovely new detail to discover. It's just beautiful. One to wear to Chelsea Flower Show in 2016?</div>
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<a href="http://www.hermes.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.hermes.com</b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CHELSEA IN BLOOM: </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BETTER THAN THE ACTUAL FLOWER SHOW?</span></b></div>
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There was a lot talk in London this year that the <b>Chelsea fringe festivals</b> are almost better than the actual Flower Show. I agree. While the <b>Chelsea Flower Show </b>has become rather commercialized and brand-driven, the festivals that have sprung up around it, like self-seeding flowers in spring, are surprising, inspiring – and (best of all) FREE! My favourite is <b>Chelsea in Bloom</b>, the event that encourages all the boutiques around Sloane Square to put on floral-themed windows. Each boutique is then judged by the same judges of the Chelsea Flower Show, after which garden lovers are encouraged to wander around the route (there's a map on the Chelsea in Bloom website a week before Chelsea week) to take a look at all the botanical loveliness. Businesses take it so seriously that they commission big-name florists to draw up designs months before. Some can only afford to do it every other year, and you can see why: it's an <i>extravaganza </i>of petals and leaves.</div>
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I'm mentioning this here because it's definitely part of The New Pretty Movement. This year, the <b>Chelsea in Bloom boutiques </b>were so spectacular, they transformed the streets around Chelsea into a veritable greenhouse of gardenalia. If you can't get tickets to Chelsea (or can't afford them), I encourage you to do this DIY walking tour of the area instead: it's free, fragrant and utterly fabulous. You'll be sighing with delight at every turn. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.chelseainbloom.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.chelseainbloom.co.uk</a> <i>(click for link)</i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CELEBRATING FASHION AND GARDENS, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">IN A NEW BOOK PROJECT</span></b></div>
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I haven't told many people this but for the past few years I've been quietly working on a <b>garden book project </b>on the side (in between other publishing projects!). Every time I've gone overseas I've tried to set aside a day or two to either shoot gardens or do a reconnaissance. (Some gardens are as glorious as you'd expect. Others don't receive the same horticultural love.) After three years and a LOT of gardens, I had enough content to produce a mock-up. I wanted to create a really <i>pretty</i> book, a book that celebrated my love of gardens and fashion, but I wan't sure how to configure it? Finally, we had the answer, and this past week, the project has, to my surprise and delight, been green-lighted by a big New York publisher. </div>
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Shooting begins in the US, France, Italy and England next year, and I'll certainly post some images here and on Instagram. I hope you like the project.</div>
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In the meantime, I'm still finishing the Joan Lindsay biography (the <i>Picnic at Hanging Rock</i> book), which is now going to be illustrated with images (the National Trust are getting involved), and may also become a documentary. <i>(As you can see it's become bigger than we anticipated, which is why it's taking so long!)</i> We hope to wrap it up by the end of this month, so it can be published in time for the big 50th anniversary next year. There is a <i>Picnic </i>play planned at the Malthouse theatre (nothing to do with my book, but part of the overall celebrations), a <i>Picnic</i> exhibition being staged at Mulberry Hill and even a TV series in the works. Joan Lindsay would be pleased.</div>
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I'll keep you posted of news of all books as they evolve.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">OSCAR DE LA RENTA'S BOTANICAL BEAUTIES</span></b></div>
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Mr de la Renta may have passed on to that grand, glamorous garden in the sky, but the company's new creative director, Peter Copping, is doing an impressive job filling his (stylish) shoes. This year's collections have been full of botanical beauties, from frocks to flamboyant heels. Just look at these two cuties. I love the leaf-strewn Spanish mules.</div>
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I love <b>Mr Blahnik.</b> I love the fact that he was raised on a banana plantation in the Canary Islands, and that his parents wanted him to become a diplomat but he enrolled in literature and architecture instead. I love the fact that Diana Vreeland gave him his start, telling him: "Young man, do things, do accessories, do shoes!" </div>
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I also love the fact that he lives in the Georgian town of Bath, far from the pretense and madness of Paris and London. I <i>really </i>love the fact that he loves his garden as much as his shoes. But I particularly love the fact that he seems like such a genuinely <i>nice </i>gentleman! So this new monograph of his work is top of my Wish List.</div>
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Entitled <b><i>Fleeting Gestures and Obsessions </i></b><i>(isn't that the perfect title for a fashion book?)</i>, it's a look at his designs, his life, his loves and his legacy over the many years. It's one for shoe lovers, but it's also one for those who love design in all its forms. You can't get a much more inspirational person than this man.</div>
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<a href="http://www.rizzoliusa.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.rizzoliusa.com</b></a></div>
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This exhibition has only just opened (a few days ago), and is one for textile and travel lovers. Entitled <b>The Fabric of India</b>, it's the highlight of the V&A's India Festival, and is the first major exhibition to explore the dynamic world of India's handmade fabrics. There's also a beautiful book, so if you can't make it to London, consider ordering the book online. Showing until January 10.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">LONDON TOWN</span></b></div>
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Oh, I forgot to mention that we're still working on a beautiful <b>London guide </b>(the above is my mood board; not a design rough for the book), and I hope to bring you lots of London travel tips throughout the production process.</div>
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That's all for now, from this messy corner of my study!</div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383907926280689006.post-13966988008505468282015-10-02T23:24:00.000-07:002015-10-06T19:08:08.602-07:00Great books, great stories, grand travel, and even grander fathers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Exactly two weeks ago, our family and friends celebrated the life of my kind, wise, clever and thoughtful father, in a packed chapel overlooking the gentle green hills of the countryside. (Don't worry; this is a post about happy things!) I was reluctant to attend; my father was my hero and I was heartbroken. But I did and it was beautiful. (I also had to do the 150 photos for the slide show; which took a few G&TS.) Afterwards, my partner and I had a quiet word at the cemetery, where I told dad what a wonderful father he'd been, and how grateful we were to have had him in our lives. All daughters think their dads are special, but I was particularly lucky. My father was an adventurer who taught his children to love travel, an educator who instilled in us the very best of his values and beliefs, a mathematician with a gift for money and numbers (oh, how I wish I'd inherited THAT gene!), a hard worker who believed that tenacity, determination and a strong work ethic will take you a long way in life, and a gentleman who practiced kindness right until his last days. I hope I am as kind as he was at 74 years of age.</div>
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But the one thing I'll always remember my dad for, the one thing I want to celebrate here, was his ability to tell a great story. My dad was a born raconteur. Not only that, he also loved listening to others' travels and adventures (just as I do), especially if an entertaining anecdote was involved. In fact, I think it's his laugh that I will miss most. There's nothing like someone's laugh to make you laugh in return, don't you think? We need more laughter in the world. We could all do with a little less negativity and a little more joy. And so I'd like celebrate my father by posting about some of the things he loved; namely books, great stories, good friends, and grand journeys (with luggage to match!). </div>
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As always, feel free to follow on <b>Instagram – link below.</b> I'll be back on board IG in a few days with pix of New York and New Orleans gardens (doing a little garden tour of the French Quarter), and would love to chat to you there! </div>
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<b><a href="https://instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author">https://instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author</a> (Click for link)</b></div>
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My publisher will growl because I haven't publicized this earlier, but I hope the circumstances mentioned above allow me to be forgiven. <b><i>Paris in Style </i></b>is my newest book on Paris, and probably my last. And because it's my last, I've packed it with Parisian secrets and insights! From the splendid <b>Architecture Museum </b>(just as good as the Carnavalet) to the <b>little-known tours of Chanel's apartment on Rue Cambon</b>, it covers hundreds of wonderful places to discover in this endlessly fascinating city. There are <b>secret fashion and textile museums, sweet little hotels, under-the-radar neighborhoods, lesser-known design destinations, unusual boutiques, irresistible vintage stores and flea market stalls, gorgeous shoe stores and fashion boutiques, heavenly homewares places, and even hidden gardens and parks to explore.</b></div>
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There's also a <b>convenient list of 'must-sees' if you're in a hurry, </b>and <b>an extensive section on Paris's most surprising fashion and design quarters, from SoPi to NoMa and the 16th.</b> And of course, there are hundreds of photos and captions— because who reads copy anymore? It's a great little format too: compact enough for your handbag or carry-on. So grab a copy (it's just been released on October 1) for your next trip to Paris. I hope it offers lots of insights and ideas to help you plan the perfect Parisian sojourn.</div>
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<b>MUP (Melbourne University Publishing), $39. </b></div>
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<b>(Available through all bookstores and Amazon)</b></div>
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<b>Link here – <a href="https://www.mup.com.au/items/9780522866995">PARIS IN STYLE</a></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A NEW EXHIBITION OF TRAVEL, BY LOUIS VUITTON</span></b></span></div>
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If you were lucky enough to attend LV's magnificent exhibition on the art of travel and antique travel trunks at the Carnavalet Museum in Paris several years ago (and even if you didn't), you're going to love this special exhibition. Held at the sumptuous <b>Salon d'Honneur at the Grand Palais in Paris, 'Volez, Voguez, Voyagez</b>' will celebrate the evolution, and the glamour and adventure, of travel. The exhibition will include displays on:</div>
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<b>THE TRUNK OF 1906 — an innovative design</b></div>
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<b>THE CLASSIC TRUNKS — a catalogue of refined canvases, shapes and locks</b></div>
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<b>THE INVENTION OF TRAVEL – the inauguration of the Steamer Bag</b></div>
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<b>THE PORTAIN TRUNK — a conversation with art</b></div>
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<b>ECCENTRIC AND CURIOUS TRUNKS — including Gaston Louis Vuitton’s own collection</b></div>
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<b>FASHION AND BEAUTY – including 'celebrity' luggage and 'superstar' trunks</b></div>
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<b>and 'THE MUSIC ROOM' — comprising special orders (aka the stuff dreams are made of!)</b></div>
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If you're a traveller, an adventurer or just an armchair dreamer, you won't want to miss this show. (Highlights will inevitably be posted online closer to opening date.) It will inspire, delight and perhaps also motivate you to pack your own well-worn bag and seek out some quiet corner of the globe to explore. </div>
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<b>From December 4 until February 2016.</b></div>
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<b>Grand Palais, Paris</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b>A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES AT LOUIS VUITTON</b></span></span></div>
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If you can't make the Grand Palais exhibition, you can still peek inside Louis Vuitton's atelier via its new museum, which has just opened inside the <b>original Louis Vuitton home and workshop in Asnières-sur-Seine, France</b>. Simply called <b>'La Galerie', </b>the new museum was put together by the renowned Australian-born, London-based curator Judith Clark, and showcases Louis Vuitton's journey via stories, inspirations, collections, and artistic collaborations, plus, of course, all the magnificent travel pieces, from steamer trunks to canvas bags. It's a wonderful opportunity to see inside the hallowed walls of this legendary French house. </div>
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<b> Visits by request. Weekends only.</b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LES JOURNEES PARTICULIER: A PEEK BEHIND PARIS'S COUTURE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP</span></b></span></div>
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<b>Les Journées Particulières </b>only comes along once every few years, so mark the dates of May 20-22, 2016, in your diary. Organised by the LVMH group, this is a unique event designed to celebrate the heritage and craftsmanship of Paris' various maisons, and all their ateliers, workshops, studios, back rooms and pin-filled toiles. The opportunity to see inside these ateliers is so rare that whenever LVMH announces these open days, people queue for hours for the chance to join the privileged few visitors. (The last one, in 2013, saw more than 100,000 people go through the various doors.) The most popular atelier is, of course, Christian Dior, but Givenchy, Céline, Guerlain, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Marc Jacobs and the other maisons will no doubt be just as packed next year. More details will be released early next year, so keep an eye out. </div>
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<b>www.lvmh.fr</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b>RECOMMENDED NEW READING</b></span></span></div>
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Last week, I sent piles and PILES of gift parcels to friends and family, including my favorite aunt, Margot, who is just the most beautiful soul, inside and out. (And has been incredibly kind to me, as good aunts are.) All of these parcels contained books – the BEST kind of gifts, I think – and these were some of the goodies. </div>
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<b><i>A Day at Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte </i></b>If you bought the book on Versailles by the same publisher, you'll adore this little gem, which goes behind the scenes of one of France's great chateaux (the gardens inspired Le Notre to design Versailles). There are architectural drawings, garden plans, garden photographs, and incredible wide shots of the interior, including the kitchens and grand salons. The best part, however, is the history, and all the scandalous stories. A great gift idea. <b>Flammarion, $42.</b></div>
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<b><i>Modern Love: The Lives of John and Sunday Reed </i></b>is the latest look at this Bloomsbury-esque couple who shared their home, their hearts, their dollars (they were two of our greatest art patrons), and their business know-how to enable up-and-coming artists to achieve extraordinary success. Of course, they shared their beds too, but thankfully this book doesn't go into the dirty details too much. It's one for Heide lovers, including Nicole Kidman, who named her daughter after Sunday Reed, and a fascinating insight into art and love and how, when the two are combined, they often create the greatest inspiration. There's also an accompanying exhibition at Heide, which is well worth seeing. <b>MUP, $45.</b></div>
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<b><i>Endless Pleasure: Exploring and Collecting Among the Byways of Gardens</i></b> is a wonderfully quirky title about gardening featuring contributions from garden writers, food writers, chefs, artists, gallery curators, and antiquarians who love the outdoors. There are stories behind the tools we use and love, recipes and memories, and irresistible garden paraphernalia such as prints and drawings. Much of it draws on the collection of the new Australian Museum of Gardening in Adelaide, and the illustrations, images and page designs will give you pleasure for an entire weekend. Buy one for a friend and another for yourself! <b>Wakefield Press, $39.95.</b></div>
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<b><i>World of Interiors. </i></b>If you don't have a subscription to this sumptuous magazine, put it on your Christmas Wish List. The September 2015 issue is a little slice of bliss.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b>TRICIA FOLEY'S FABULOUS NEW BOOK</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b>LIFESTYLE: ELEGANT SIMPLICITY AT HOME</b></span></span></div>
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I first met the <b>New York author, editor, stylist and consultant Tricia Foley </b>several years ago, while shooting her quietly beautiful Long Island farmhouse for a book. We've stayed friends ever since. She is not only one of the kindest and most unpretentious people I've ever met but also one of the most talented interior designers. And her home... well, the word 'farmhouse' (Tricia's word) is an understatement really. Imagine a stylish white house on an idyllic river setting (complete with a tiny white boathouse), and then fill it with antique armoires and elegant sleigh beds, cupboards of beautiful white porcelain, sublime tablescapes of beautifully arranged treasures, crisply slipcovered white furniture, worn white floors, piles of books, and room after room of gentle grace. Even the basement has been converted to a charming office with a fireplace, library and flower room.</div>
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Now, Tricia's 10th book,<i><b> Lifestyle: Elegant Simplicity at Home, </b></i>chronicles the 13-year renovation and decorating of this once-ramshackle 19th century farmhouse and its little twin, while revealing the heart and soul of their wonderful owner. Some chapters are deeply moving: "I didn't expect to stay long in this little orphaned house I found on Long Island years ago.." she writes on one page. And the images show the love she has poured into the place. She also offers advice drawn from years of working with famous clients, including Ralph Lauren. The foreword was written by her close friend and neighbour Isabella Rossellini, who writes: "Her determination to make anything old and decrepit beautiful is so contagious that ever since she moved to Long Island, the entire village has been transformed." It's true, too. In recent years, I have gone from being a black-and-white girl to embracing color in all its shades but reading this book makes me wonder if we shouldn't all return to the peace, elegance and utter sophistication of refined, timeless white rooms? With the publication of this title, I suspect an interior design movement back to white its well on its way. </div>
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<b>Rizzoli, $45.</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b>RODNEY SMITH'S NEW BOOK PROJECT,</b></span></span><br />
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Remarkable is an overused word in the creative world, but in<b> Rodney Smith's</b> case, it really does apply. One of the most outstanding photographers to have emerged in the past 40 years, his work bridges both commercial and creative. Think Margritte meets <i>Mad Men.</i> There are images of ballgowned beauties reading classics in lush country gardens, bowler hatted-gentlemen doing dances with black brollies, and elegant 1950s-style travelers heading off on their own glamorous Grand Tours with suitcases atop their sleek sedans, but there are also surprising scenes of broken tea sets in French ballrooms and philosophers contemplating wise old trees. </div>
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Not surprisingly, Rodney Smith's 45-year-career spans everything from the <i>New York Times</i> to magazine editorials, and his work has long been coveted by collectors. Well, now those of us unable to afford the $4000 for a single print can purchase 170 photos for just $75 <b>via Rodney Smith's Kickstater campaign</b>, which aims to fund funds to publish a stunning new tome. With the goal of $42,000 almost reached, you'd better be quick if you want to secure a signed copy of your own. </div>
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Like everything else Rodney Smith does, this is certain to be spectacular. For more details and a video of the project, click on this link – <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rodneysmith/rodney-smith-photography-book">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rodneysmith/rodney-smith-photography-book</a><br />
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<span style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>TROPICAL CHIC: TRULY BEAUTIFUL HOMES</b></span></span></div>
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<i><b>Tropical Chic </b></i>was was a surprise buy. I fell in love with the cover and then found the contents to be just as gorgeous. Written by Jennifer Ruddick, it takes readers behind the grand garden hedges and gates of glamorous Palm Beach in Florida, home to some of the most spectacular residences in the US. If you're a fan of bold color and chic interiors done with a certain cheekiness and whimsy, this is the book for you. There are iconic mansions that have been featured in many magazines but there are also private residences that are clearly more about family than making a statement. A truly lovely book. </div>
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<b>Vendome, $80.</b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>PROVENCE AND THE FRENCH RIVIERA</b></span></span></div>
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<i><b>Provence and the Côte d'Azur</b></i> has been published in Australian for a year or more now, but has only just come out in the USA (Chronicle Publishers), and friends have been kindly emailing me whenever they've caught sightings in Anthropologie and other stores. I thought I'd mention it in case you're heading to France this year, or making plans for next year. As always, if you want any travel ideas and insights, feel free to email me. I'm always helping people with itineraries (and love doing it). Even if time is restricted, I'll always offer whatever I can by way of great, under-the-radar places, including hotels, hideaways, stores and more. Of course, you can buy the book, too! </div>
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<b>Chronicle, $20.</b></div>
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Until the next blog post, wishing you all much love from our (slightly weed-filled) garden. (Clearly Mother Nature's been hard at work while we've been away tending to family things.) </div>
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As always, feel free to follow on Instagram – I hope to be back on IG in the next few days, with some gorgeous pix of glamour and gardens in New York and New Orleans, and perhaps Europe too!</div>
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<a href="https://instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author"><b><span style="font-size: large;">https://instagram.com/janellemcculloch_author </span></b></a></div>
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Janelle McCullochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16006727386237836016noreply@blogger.com17