Viva La Top Design

Dining area designed by Top Design's Nathan Thomas.

I was at the Coldplay concert during the Top Design finale, but I finally had a chance to catch up with it on Tivo.

Now that all is said and done, I have to comment on what a VAST improvement this second season was over the initial run. The final contestants were bigger talents, the spaces were more challenging and the addition of India Hicks and Jeff Lewis was welcomed. But most notably, the ear-bleeding opening from Season One (complete with pillow fight) is gone. It's a miracle that anyone made it past the first 20 seconds of the last go round.

This season, I laughed, I cringed, and at times became so inspired that I would pause mid-show to start projects in my own house. I won't spoil the winner in case you are a late viewer like I was, but just wanted to say nice work Bravo! I am keeping my fingers crossed there will be a Season Three.

Jeff Lewis & Top Design

Jeff Lewis, it was so nice to see your cameo on Top Design. The line you delivered about wanting to send Ondine home for her decoupage screens because you "hated them that much" made me miss you even more.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that SGM will be entertaining us with one of her signature recaps of Top Design this week. Topics I am hoping she covers:

1) Our favorite contestant's overuse of the phrase "panty drop".
2) India Hicks' odd pronunciation of the word "with".
3) Nathan's desperate need for a showmance.


By the way, did anyone else notice that contestant Andrea Schroder was wearing the Daniel Franco dress from last week's window design challenge at the Emmys? Nice cross promotion, Bravo!

Society Portraits, Then and Now

Amanda Hearst at age 16 with portrait of her great-grandmother, Mrs. William Randolph Hearst (1882-1974). Image from Bright Young Things, published in 2000.

Amanda Hearst in her New York City home, 2008. (Photo from Inheriting Beauty via Black Book Magazine).

The tradition of society portraiture continues with Inheriting Beauty, a new book of photographs by Roger Moenks. In addition to the lovely Amanda Hearst (seen above), the coffee table size collection will include design blog favorites, India Hicks, Carolina Herrera and Tinsley Mortimer. While the book does not focus on interiors, it does capture it's subjects in their respective homes around the globe.

Mapping It

Christopher Columbus with compass, map and navigation instrument

In honor of the great explorer, I thought I would post some rooms featuring maps and globes. In my own house, I keep an atlas on a stand. I realized I was referencing it so much, there was no need to ever put it away.

India Hicks Harbour Island home from Domino. If you like the chair fabric pictured in the background, Stylecourt has a great post on it today.

A paper map creates privacy for an otherwise see-through French door. (From Better Homes and Gardens, Sept. '07).

This room was created with only $150 worth of inexpensive maps. Room designed by David H. Mitchell for Southern Accents 2005.

Bathroom designed by Kendall Wilkinson.

Map collector and dealer, W. Graham Arader III hangs sections of this 1733 map over the stairwell. This is the first wall map of the American colonies to be created. (Photography by Simon Upton for Decorating with Pictures).

Elle Decor 2006, via Katiedid, who has more great maps and globes in her July archive.

Happy Columbus Day!

The Simple Life

Looking for more India Hicks in Harbour Island? Curiosity led me down the garden path to her Crabtree and Evelyn website, India Hicks Island Living. The videos are a little hokey (there are four in all), but they give some insight into the inspiration for her fragrances, and a glimpse of what life would be like as an aristocrat in paradise. Be sure to check out the "Conversation with India" segment and "Experience" the Collections.

For more India Hicks, check out the Stylecourt archive.

On a heavier note, India and her mother, Pamela Mountbatten have written a new book, India Remembered: A Personal Account of the Mountbattens During the Transfer of Power.

Other titles by India Hicks: Island Life and Island Beauty.