Top Ten List

Recently, Cannon Frank created a profile on Dering Hall, a high-end, interior design website (be sure to check out our portfolio!).  They asked me for my “Top Ten” list and I thought you might enjoy reading it at “We Hear You.”

CLASSIC COLOR CHOICE

Cream or off-white is my favorite color because it goes with almost everything and almost everything looks good in an off-white or cream colored room. You can keep your wall color and change the room a bit each season by bringing in other accents such as pillows, rugs, accessories and even change your artwork seasonally. Go from cluttered to pristine, from fussy to clean and modern — all with one color. While I have had more than one home, some with colors and some without, I have lived with off-white walls for most of my adult life and can think of no other color I would prefer.

HOTEL THAT HAS INSPIRED YOUR WORK

Over the years there have been a few — the Hana Maui Hotel and the Hana Maui Ranch by Rosewood corporation, the Peninsula hotels in Los Angeles and Chicago, Le Serrano in St. Barts in the French West Indies, and more recently The Standard Hotel in Manhattan. .

BEST TECHNOLOGY TO DOCUMENT DESIGN INSPIRATION

My brain and my iPad. I upload all kinds of ideas and store them.

FAVORITE PLACE TO SPOT NEW STYLE

I get a lot of ideas from shopping in my favorite antique stores and finding new pieces to go in contemporary homes and then blending them with my clients’ personalities, tastes and dreams. I love fashion magazines and often find inspiration in fashion. CS Magazine, the Men’s Book, InStyle, Vanity Fair and Town & Country all show various forms of style that I appreciate.

RESTAURANT

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago is Wood — mainly for the incredible food. Another is Bento Box — also for the food and the neighborhood ambiance. I also love the Lobby Restaurant at the Peninsula Chicago for its elegance. I can hear my guests when they talk and the food is always impeccable. In Manhattan and LA there are too many to list, but a few favorites are WD-50 by Wylie Dufresne in Manhattan and Mayas in St. Barts.

SMALL MUSEUM

I am not so much of a museum person, but when a show is presented I love to go and see it. I love Egyptology, Cartier, Lillian Nassuau, DeLorenzo and Bernd Goekler and Karl Kemp, all in Manhattan. While they are not museums, you can find no better source than these showrooms for antique pieces. As for museums I love the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

HOW YOU START YOUR WEEKEND

I make certain I have everything I need for the weekend by Thursday or Friday so I can use my free time to enjoy every minute I have, whether it is planning a dinner party or working in the garden. I start out being fully prepared. Lists are created well in advance, shopping is done, the car is gassed up, the packing is done the day before and an itinerary is always helpful. This weekend I am serving dinner to 10 guests after a late afternoon boat ride, so dinner will be done in advance, and once we are off the seas, dinner will take 30 minutes to heat up while we do cocktails and appetizers. Even the bar will be set up in advance.

BIGGEST DESIGN INFLUENCE

Architecture and technology influence me the most. When I see a Frank Lloyd Wright home or a new innovative structure by Jeannie Gang, those factors and my client are my best motivators. My inspiration comes from my client’s wishes on how they chose to live, whether it’s living in a masterpiece or a specific lifestyle they prefer. I am often impressed with the work of others, but mostly what my clients want is what gives me my momentum, and I attempt to clarify that direction and take them well beyond their wildest dreams.

HOW TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER

Breathe….and realize today too shall pass and tomorrow brings renewed energies. Then, delegate, follow through and keep making lists and advancing unresolved items to the forefront of the list.

GARDEN: GROOMED OR FREESTYLE?

Both. I love a garden manicured within inches of perfection, but I also love a natural or wild garden and can appreciate both equally. Recently we have completed a residence with 2 ½ acres of formal gardens while we have another project with a log cabin as the centerpiece on 225 acres, with outdoor rooms, ponds, cutting gardens, herb gardens and more. Honestly, I could not say which I prefer more.