Jacques Grange talks personal taste: Part One

Interior designer Jacques Grange combines tradition with art deco to elegantly eclectic effect for clients from François Pinault to Madison Avenue’s The Mark hotel

Image: Lea Crespi

My personal style signifiers are dark-navy – almost black – trousers by Dior, light-blue linen shirts and grey cashmere pullovers by Loro Piana, and a very relaxed, unstructured Armani jacket. I think sticking to one look that works is very chic, especially for men. www.armani.com. www.dior.com. www.loropiana.com.

Grange’s photograph of Colette by Irving Penn | Image: Lea Crespi

The last thing I bought and loved was a photograph of Colette in repose by Irving Penn, which I bought at auction at Christie’s. I am fortunate to live in her former apartment in the Palais-Royal, and this image from the 1930s captures the years she spent as an actress. www.christies.com.

And the thing I’m eyeing next is one of three rare pieces of art-deco furniture by Eileen Gray, which have recently come up for sale at the Galerie Jacques de Vos in Paris. I adore her designs and would love to add one of her chairs, a console or a library table to my collection. 7 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris (+331-4329 8894; www.galerie-devos.com).

Canvas Bibendum armchairs by Eileen Gray, c1930, available at the Galerie Jacques de Vos | Image: Courtesy of Galerie Jacques de Vos

The best souvenir I’ve brought home is a brilliant blue tile from Marrakech. It was given to me on my first trip there, in the 1970s, by longtime client and friend Yves Saint Laurent, and will forever remind me of a special time and a great friendship.

Grange’s tile from Marrakech, given to him by Yves Saint Laurent | Image: Lea Crespi

The last meal that truly impressed me was at El Mercado in Lima. The garden setting was the perfect place to sample spicy Peruvian ceviche, roast scallops with pisco and decadent deep-fried pumpkin and sweet potato doughnuts. Hipólito Unanue 203, Miraflores, Lima 18 (+511-221 1322).

he Road to Mandalay cruising the Ayeyarwady River near Bagan, in Myanmar | Image: Belmond/Zaw Min Yu

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Myanmar. It is still so unspoilt that it felt like stepping back into the 19th century. We sailed along the scenic Ayeyarwady aboard Belmond’s Road to Mandalay, stopping at villages, Bagan, Mingun and the pagoda of King Bodawpaya. The hundreds of temples lining the river valley resemble a necklace of many gems. A balloon trip at sunrise was a magical highlight. www.belmond.com.

Frédéric Malle’s Cologne Bigarade

An indulgence I would never forego is a very comfortable bed with luxurious sheets. A proper night’s rest is the foundation of everything – including a productive day. I like a very good, firm Simmons mattress with plain, white Egyptian cotton sheets from Noël and down pillows. www.noel-paris.com. www.simmons.com.

The grooming staples I’m never without are the Crème de la Mer moisturiser I use every day and Frédéric Malle’s Cologne Bigarade, which has slight citrus notes and feels very fresh. I also like the unfussy and pure shampoo by French brand Klorane. Crème de la Mer moisturiser, £105 for 30ml; www.cremedelamer.com. Frédéric Malle Cologne Bigarade, £110 for 100ml; www.fredericmalle.com. Klorane shampoo, £5 for 200ml; www.laboratoires-klorane.fr.

The best gift I’ve given recently was a spectacular 40-year-old plane tree to a friend for his bastide in the Loire Valley. It was 10m tall and he was quite surprised when it arrived. It has been planted in an expansive field that can be viewed from the house and casts some lovely shadows. I bought it at a wonderful garden centre in Amboise. Pépinières Paysages Petitbon et Fils, Route d’Amboise D 81, La Noue Drouin, 37150 Civray de Touraine (+3324-723 8282; www.pepinieres-petitbon.com).

And the best one I’ve received recently was a very personal letter from my dear friend Pierre Bergé. I recently celebrated a milestone birthday and received many beautiful gifts, but this heartfelt note was the most touching of all, particularly as he’s not an easy-going man. I was given a beautiful gouache by Francis Ford Coppola too, which shows the two of us together at his hotel, Palazzo Margherita in Bernalda.

My favourite websites are interiors related. I research 20th-century furniture and objets on Galerie du Passage; I like Galerie L’Arc en Seine for art-deco furnishings and the Gladstone Gallery site for contemporary art; and The Salon: Art + Design offers a comprehensive collection of fine and decorative art dealers from all over the world. www.arcenseine.com. www.galeriedupassage.com. www.gladstonegallery.com. www.thesalonny.com.

Thierry Despont talks personal taste: Part One

Architect and designer Thierry Despont has renovated some of the world’s most iconic hotels, including The Ritz in Paris, which reopens next summer

Thierry Despont photographed at his New York office | Image: Circe Hamilton

My personal style signifier is a watch – either my Calibre de Cartier, which is elegant and simple, or a classic gold Breguet that features the phases of the moon and has a ringing bell as an alarm. I am always on time. Breguet from $29,000; www.breguet.com. Calibre de Cartier from £5,700; www.cartier.com.

The last thing I bought and loved was a photograph of the moon by the American scientist and photographer John William Draper. I am a passionate collector of books, maps and pictures of the moon, and Draper was one of the first people to capture images of its surface.

Despont’s Calibre de Cartier watch, from $29,000

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a first edition of Galileo Galilei’s Starry Messenger. This astronomical treatise features his telescopic observations and discovery of four of Jupiter’s satellites. I have a second edition of this rare book that has beautiful woodcuts and a first edition would complete my collection.

The last meal that truly impressed me was at Bodeguita Antonio Romero, a relaxed and authentic tapas bar near the famous bullring in Seville. This is my favourite kind of food: small plates of manchego cheese, jamón and house specialities such as anchovies en salazón and chipirones rellenos. Calle Antonia Díaz 19, 41001 Seville (+3495-422 3939; www.bodeguitaantonioromero.com).

The best souvenir I’ve brought home is a big, fat, navy blue lacquer fountain pen that I bought at Louis Vuitton in Paris. I love to write and correspond the old-fashioned way. €695; 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris (+331-4549 6232; www.louisvuitton.com).

The last music I downloaded was Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet – one of the most innovative albums in jazz history that’s become a classic – and Romanian pianist Rada Lupu’s recital of Schubert’s Moments Musicaux.

Starry Messenger by Galileo Galilei | Image: Circe Hamilton

The grooming staple I’m never without is Vetiver eau de toilette by Guerlain. It has notes of wood and spices and I’ve worn it every day for years. £22.50 for 100ml; www.guerlain.com.

My favourite room in my house is the art-deco-inspired, wood-panelled library on the top floor of my home in Tribeca, where I keep my collections of rare architectural books and leather-bound tomes on French history and literature. I love to relax and entertain here.

In my fridge you’ll always find a bottle of Baron de L Pouilly Fumé from the Loire Valley. I also like to have oysters or fresh sea urchins on hand and plenty of broccoli, which I eat steamed and drizzled with olive oil for breakfast every day. Baron de L Pouilly Fumé, £55; www.pouilly-fume.com.

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Egon Schiele. He was a master draughtsman and there is a certain kind of poetry in his work – a combination of both happiness and tragedy.

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

The site that inspires me is the Place Vendôme in Paris, where aside from my work on the Ritz I am also involved with the restoration of the historic Vendôme Column. The energy and light here are fantastic and the surrounding buildings by Jules Hardouin-Mansart mark the apex of French baroque architecture.

The best gift I’ve given recently is a pair of large linden trees to Barbara, the woman I love and share my life with. I gave them to her for her birthday and we planted them in our garden in the Hamptons; they frame the view from our bedroom window.

Guerlain Vetiver eau de toilette, £22.50 for 100ml

And the best one I’ve received is a box of steaks that my friend and client Ralph Lauren sent me from his ranch in Colorado. He sends a parcel of delicious, organically raised meat every year and I always look forward to this special gift.

My favourite websites are Via Libre for rare books and eBay for the old farm artefacts that I incorporate into my sculptures and artworks. I also like YouTube for a bit of gossip and entertainment, and 1stdibs for a wide array of furniture and design.

 www.1stdibs.com. www.ebay.com. www.vialibri.net. www.youtube.com.

Aboubakar Fofana: indigo impresario

Bespoke hand-woven textiles from a Mali-based artisan

The colour blue has long captivated artists from impressionist painters to Japanese wood-blockers, and for the Mali-based artist Aboubakar Fofana it is indigo – and traditional African dyeing techniques – that is close to his heart. The master craftsman and calligrapher creates stunning bespoke textiles from locally sourced plant material in beautiful shades of azure. Fofana delights in projects for companies (clients include Donna Karan and Edun) and private individuals, and creates anything from enormous tents (first picture) to custom bedding, pillows (second picture), clothing, tapestries and art.

After initial conversations with the client, Fofana sets about sketching the project in a storyboard fashion and producing a unique set of dyes from dried, green indigo leaves sourced from West Africa. Handwoven textiles are dyed to meet a client’s choice within a 12-colour range that runs from the lightest ice blue to a rich navy that is almost black. “Clients have come to the atelier pointing to the sky and asking for that particular shade. If the nuance can be dyed in indigo, I am happy to create textiles for anyone who understands my work.”

Basic commissions (from $235 per m) are completed in four to six weeks, with larger-scale pieces – the upholstery of an entire room, for example – taking up to several months. Clients can choose from organic materials such as cotton, linen, ramie and hemp, as well as wool, cashmere and silk. “Much of my own work uses handspun Malian cotton,” explains Fofana. “I love the texture, character and humanity that exists in these textiles.”

Based in the city of Bamako, Fofana remains committed to revitalising interest in his country’s dyeing traditions. “Over many years I have learned about this art through other masters, through reading, studying and practising. It has taken a long time to reconstruct a process that has largely been lost and to practise it as my ancestors did. It has finally produced some good results.”

Better than good: his results are fantastic.

By commission from Atelier Courbet, 175-177 Mott Street, New York (+1212-226 7378; www.ateliercourbet.com).

Robert Eddy: model-yacht maker extraordinaire

Bespoke commissions with intricate fittings and ultra-precise detailing

Both sailors and naval-history lovers flock to Robert Eddy ­–­ a model-maker based in Camden, Maine ­­– to create versions of their favourite yachts, schooners and even simple skiffs. Eddy is the consummate artist: part draftsman, part sculptor and also a talented jeweller by training, whose precise hand creates the intricate fittings that set his custom boats apart.

Commissioning an Eddy model is a straightforward but lengthy process, with most projects requiring one to two years of work and up to 4,000 man-hours to complete. After a site visit to the owner’s yacht or sailboat (where Eddy photographs, films and takes precise measurements to complement original plans), he works closely with the boat’s architect and interior designers to create a perfectly scaled version using only the finest, sturdiest materials that will stand the test of time. It is his sensitivity to a client’s wishes – his roster of business titans includes Tom Perkins, founder of Silicon Valley venture-capital powerhouse Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Jim Clark, founder of Netscape, and Lands’ End founder, Gary Comer – that keeps his detailed projects so much in demand.

Working with partner Reuben Brown, Eddy uses cutting-edge technology – CAD graphics, 2D laser-cutting and 3D printing of parts for lost-wax casting – to mould and sculpt topsides and hulls from hardwoods such as mahogany. The boats’ undersides are often carved from basswood sourced from linden trees and models are finished with durable AwlGrip marine paints. Deck details, such as diamond-studded winches (an Eddy signature), anchors, cleats and stanchions, are made using a wide array of precious metals, with white gold the material of choice for mimicking stainless steel, and green gold employed to simulate weathered-bronze propellers. No detail is overlooked and Eddy’s commissions – most of which measure 18-58in in length and range in price from $60,000 to upwards of $200,000 – also include such precise details as compasses and complicated nautical charts.

Recent projects have included the Perini Navi modern clipper yacht Maltese Falcon (second picture); Windcrest (third picture), a 98ft Fontaine-designed ketch; the Herreshoff schooner, Mariette; and Kalevala, a custom Swan 60 with an extended transom. Other yacht miniature models, such as the 154ft ketch Scheherazade, the Andromeda la Dea and Atlantide (first picture), are examples of the artist’s finest and most complex work, with the latter taking more than 5,500 hours to execute.

In addition to handcrafting each replica, Eddy also works with a master cabinetmaker to select woods, finishes and inlays before collaborating on a bespoke display case for each of his objets d’art. Finished models, cases and, in some instances, platform tables, are then sent via an art handler anywhere in the world, with Eddy personally overseeing each installation.

“My real challenge is reducing huge yachts to a scale that makes every detail viewable,” explains Eddy. “If you do things too small, they just become cute objects – not sculptures that celebrate maritime history. My clients want conversation pieces that connect them to their boats and their passion for the sea.”

+1207-236 6579; www.yachtmodels.com.

Christian Liaigre talks personal taste: Part One

Christian Liaigre has designed beautifully spare interiors and furniture for Karl Lagerfeld and Larry Gagosian, as well as for restaurants and hotels, including The Mercer in New York and Hôtel Costes in Paris

My personal style signifier is a pair of handmade tortoiseshell glasses that I designed for myself and wear every day. I have worn this same style for the past 20 years; I like the simple shape and natural finish. I have them made at the Maison Bonnet workshop in Paris. 5 Rue des Petits Champs, Paris 75001 (+331-4296 4635; www.maisonbonnet.com).

The last thing I bought and loved was a work of art by the French painter and sculptor Richard Texier. It is a colourful mixed-media picture of the mineral kingdom done with the aid of a computer. I bought it directly from the artist, whose work I admire immensely. www.richardtexier.com.

The sea-view terrace at Christian Liaigre’s house on St Barths | Image: Mark Seelen

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a Land Rover Defender, so that I can take my son to our country home on Ile de Ré or to the horse country near La Rochelle at weekends. I like this car for both its functionality and aesthetics; I have my eye on a beautiful metallised-brown model. www.landrover.com.

A recent “find” is the restaurant Le Relais Louis XIII in Paris. It feels provincial and intimate, much like dining at the home of a country doctor. My friend, the photographer Peter Lindbergh, took me there and I particularly love the lobster ravioli and the chef’s delicious organic vegetables. 8 Rue des Grands Augustins, Paris 75006 (+331-4326 7596; www.relaislouis13.fr).

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a double-cashmere sports jacket by Berluti. It is a deep-green-khaki colour with a yellow lining and it is simple, warm and beautifully made. 14 Rue de Sèvres, Paris 75007 (+331-4048 2860; www.berluti.com).

The last music I downloaded was Alchemya by flamenco guitarist Juan Carmona, Niño de Almadén’s Maestros del Cante Flamenco and Pepe Martínez’s The Spanish Guitar, Flamenco Masters. Clearly I love Spanish music.

An object I would never part with is the penknife I carry with me everywhere. It is very reassuring to have one in my pocket, as I can always cut a flower or sharpen a pencil. Mine is made from tortoiseshell and silver and comes from the small town of Nogent in northeastern France.

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is the Vallespir region of the Pyrénées in northern Catalonia. It is a wonderful, unspoiled landscape full of green valleys covered with cork oak trees. Juan Gris and Picasso lived in nearby Céret and there are many interesting Roman thermal baths throughout the beautiful countryside.

A Land Rover Defender 110, from £23,095

The site that inspires me is the sea – particularly the view of it from my homes in St Barths and Ile de Ré. Nothing compares to the iodine-packed Atlantic Ocean; the colours and light are so energising.

The best gift I’ve received recently was a very refined, 2m-long calligraphy print by the South Korean artist Suh Se-ok. I had tea with him and this work was a present from the Samsung family to thank me for a project I did for them in South Korea. It now hangs in a special place over the central staircase in my home.

Ligne St Barth Deep Sea Cream, €1,350 for 40ml

The best souvenir I’ve brought home is a sculpted, dark-wood Basque walking stick called a makila. The top part has a hand-grip that can be pulled off, revealing a hidden blade that was traditionally used as a defence against wolves. I keep it in my bedroom to remind me of a family trip to the Pyrénées.

The grooming staple I’m never without is Deep Sea Cream by Ligne St Barth. It is incredibly moisturising and smells great. €1,350 for 40ml in a limited-edition Murano-glass flacon (refill €590); www.lignestbarth.com.

My favourite websites are almost non-existent. I tend not to use the web much, but when I do it is the Financial Times and Le Figaro for news, and Moma PS1 for looking at contemporary art. www.ft.com; www.lefigaro.fr; www.momaps1.org.

Christian Liaigre talks personal taste: Part Two

The designer concludes his list of likes with vitamins from Laboratoire Lescuyer, London and a Basque pâté terrine

Christian Liaigre at his home in Paris | Image: Lea Crespi

My style icon is the painter Cy Twombly. He was a wise and elegant gentleman who seamlessly mixed classical sculpture with very modern pieces of art. Both his work and personal style inspire me because of their sophisticated simplicity.

Cy Twombly | Image: Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

My favourite room in my house is the sitting room because of its authentic 18th-century decorative wood panelling and gilding. Vintage chandeliers from the Porte de Clignancourt flea market are juxtaposed with contemporary photographs and deer antlers from La Rochelle. This room is the perfect backdrop for the modern furniture I designed for the space.

The last meal that truly impressed me was at Ya Lamai, a Thai restaurant in the 3rd arrondissement. The owner, Rose, is a very particular person and a wonderful cook. I had a delicious dessert called tako, a unique combination of coconut and mung-bean flour. 16 Rue du Petit Thouars, Paris 75003 (+331-8356 5500; www.yalamai.com).

The books on my bedside table are Plague and Cholera, a story about the second world war by Patrick Deville; Repulse Bay by Olivier Lebé; and Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch, which recounts the author’s experiences across Bordeaux and the Loire and Rhône valleys.

The best gift I’ve given recently was a small piece of whalebone to my son, Léonard. I gave it to him as a souvenir of our holiday in St Barths. Whales often pass through the warm waters there and this carved keepsake fits perfectly in the palm of his six-year-old hand.

In my fridge you’ll always find a Basque pâté terrine with red chilli peppers and a Bordeaux red wine that I like to serve to my friends as an apéritif. You will also find milk, cheese and mangoes, which my son currently loves. La Grande Epicerie de Paris, Le Bon Marché, 38 Rue de Sèvres, Paris 75007 (+331-4439 8100; www.lagrandeepicerie.com).

An indulgence I would never forego is a good, relaxing massage. In Paris, I go to the spa at the Hôtel Costes and when I am in St Barths I like the outdoor treatments at Le Sereno. This is a little time just for me. Hôtel Costes, 239-241 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris 75001 (+331-4244 5000; www.hotelcostes.com). Le Sereno, Anse Maréchal, Saint Barthélemy 97133 (+335-9029 8300; www.lesereno.com).

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is the British painter Peter Doig. He lives and works in the Caribbean and his pictures illustrate a style of life on the edge of fantasy. His paintings also show that we can have multiple perspectives on the same thing. I think he is a modern Gauguin.

St James’s Park, London | Image: Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose the area where I live in the 7th arrondissement. I moved there 35 years ago because it is such a calm and beautiful part of Paris. We are surrounded by gardens and small mansions and we’re just 200m from Saint-Germain-des-Près and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. I like the mix of antique shops, art galleries, wonderful cheese shops, such as Barthélemy, the book store La Hune and pastry and cake shops, including Pierre Hermé and Pâtisserie des Rêves. I also love Le Bon Marché for all sorts of food and household items – it’s the French equivalent of Harrods. This neighbourhood has the unique Rive Gauche spirit that is relaxed and sophisticated at the same time. Barthélemy, 51 Rue de Grenelle (+331-4548 5675). La Hune, 170 Boulevard Saint-Germain (+331-4548 3585). Le Bon Marché, 24 Rue de Sèvres (+331-4439 8000; www.lebonmarche.com). L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts, 14 Rue Bonaparte (+331-4703 5000; www.beauxartsparis.com). Pâtisserie des Rêves, 93 Rue du Bac (+331-4284 0082; www.lapatisseriedesreves.com). Pierre Hermé, 72 Rue Bonaparte (+331-4354 4477; www.pierreherme.com).

The people I rely on for personal grooming and wellbeing are the research team at Laboratoire Lescuyer in Aytré in southwestern France. They create the best mixtures of natural vitamins and minerals that help me stay energised and in good health. All their products are based on seaweed, minerals and a variety of herbs (+335-4656 3048; www.laboratoire-lescuyer.com).

Pierre Hermé, Paris | Image: Pierre Hermé Paris

If I didn’t live in Paris, the city I would live in is London. I love the creativity and energy of the people. I also find the British to be polite and cheerful and their city has the most beautiful parks in Europe, including Regent’s Park and St James’s Park. I’d very much like to live in Mayfair, especially in the red brick houses on Mount Street and in the surrounding area. I’d frequent Scott’s, The Arts Club, and 5 Hertford Street – just a few of my favourite places that all offer delicious food and a lively scene. 5 Hertford Street, 2-5 Hertford Street (020-7408 2100; www.5hertfordstreet.co.uk). The Arts Club, 40 Dover Street (020-7499 8581; www.theartsclub.co.uk). Scott’s, 20 Mount Street (020-7495 7309; www.scotts-restaurant.com).

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be an artist, which is very close to being a decorator. I love to paint, particularly with oils.

Rossana Orlandi’s Milan

The gallerist, curator and tastemaker transformed an abandoned factory in Milan into Spazio Rossana Orlandi in 2002. Today it is one of the world’s most cutting-edge design stores

Rossana Orlandi at Museo Bagatti Valsecchi | Image: Albrecht Tubke

“Weekends are my time to step away and not think about work or anything too serious. At home in Milan, Saturday begins at 7am with a leisurely breakfast of coffee, orange juice, toast and marmalade – in bed, listening to Mozart or Radio Monte Carlo. I scroll through the news on my iPad before heading off for a day of exploration with my husband, Guido. Our first stop is Chinatown and the area surrounding Via Paolo Sarpi. This neighbourhood has a traditional Italian feel blended with a strong Chinese community and it is full of charm.

We walk to the Macelleria Muuu, where the owner prepares meat in interesting ways and always has wonderful stories to tell. Then on to Corey’s Soul Chicken, a little store owned by the handsome Corey, who was a model for Valentino in the 1980s and now makes the most excellent fried chicken and potato salad. Our next stop is always Galleria Luisa delle Piane, run by my good friend Luisa. We share a similar aesthetic and chat about everything but work.  

Next comes the most important time of the day: lunch with our family, including grandchildren, nieces and nephews, at Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone. This is a wonderful place because all of the children can run around freely before eating their specially made panini.

Afterwards we might visit the Museum Bagatti Valsecchi to browse in the design shop that I opened there. There’s a Golden Hope Bird by Jaime Hayon that chirps a welcome to visitors and always puts me in a good mood. If the weather is nice we take the kids to the Parco Villa Reale, where we’ll meet friends and stroll through the gardens, or we might visit my beloved gallery. In either case, we are surrounded by friends and spend much of the day chatting.

Saturday evening is often spent going to the Cinema Anteo to watch films in their original language, followed by dinner at new pizzeria Dry, which was opened by my friend Tiziano Vudafieri. I absolutely love pizza and this place is beautiful and full of young people. We also like to see performances at the Teatro Franco Parenti, where you can enjoy spaghetti con salsa peperoni in the café. And if we’re not too tired, we might stop by the Blue Note, where Nick the Nightfly plays the best jazz in town.

On Sunday morning we go to the Chiesa di San Marco, where the priest and musical composer Don Luigi celebrates a vibrant mass with a sermon lasting just 10 minutes. It is the most wonderfully concise sermon you will ever hear! After the service, we head with friends to Bar Brera, where we talk about everything from exciting new areas of Milan to the latest restaurant and hotel openings. On the third Sunday of every month there is a chic flea market in Brera, where we find antiques, prints and vintage jewellery.

From here we will stroll to the Orto Botanico [botanical gardens], stopping at the Marc Jacobs café in Piazza del Carmine. They serve an excellent fillet steak here and it is also a central meeting point for many of our friends. For entertainment we often go to La Scala, where I take visiting guests to view the private rooms full of portraits of the stars, and I also arrange for special stage tours.

Sunday evenings are usually spent at the home of our friends, designer Stefano Giovannoni and his wife, Elisa. We all enjoy a dinner that is based on fresh fish, and the atmosphere is full of charm and creativity. Back at home, feeling happy and relaxed, I will start checking my emails and planning new projects for the week ahead. At 1am, after a bit of FreeCell solitaire on the iPad, I go to bed rested and refreshed.”

Stationery master

Papers, pens and prints on the Amalfi Coast

I am not generally one to seek a concierge’s opinion when it comes to shopping, but I made an exception on a recent trip to the Amalfi Coast because the hotel I stayed at – the Hotel Caruso in Ravello – was the height of elegance and tasteful style, and I just knew their picks would be spot-on. Such was the case with La Scuderia del Duca, a tiny gem of a stationers located in the shadow of Amalfi’s spectacular Duomo. It could be easily missed, but those who find it will discover a cache of handmade writing papers, ink pens, seals and wax seals, as well as maps and prints, art tomes and exquisite 19th-century antiques.

A narrow, unassuming storefront gives way to a light, bright space. Part workshop, part gallery, it is lovingly curated by Andrea De Luca and Giovanna Fusco, who have amassed a fascinating breadth of offerings from a mix of periods and styles, including Grand Tour watercolours juxtaposed with boxed sets of modern notecards bearing the subtle watermarks of local paper mills (€50.50 for 50 cards).

Ever a fool for stationery – especially the beautifully made Italian variety – I stocked up on everything from painters’ packs of pH-neutral, acid-free, ivory paper with frayed edges (€14 for 10 sheets) to sets of Quadrato and Lily of the Valley lace-patterned notecards (€17.50). I also discovered mini folded cards (€7.50) featuring floral motifs created by laser fretwork, which I fancied as place cards, as well as a colourful array of glass pens (€12 each) and inks in shades of gold, turquoise and a brilliant bordeaux (€6.50 each) – all bottled with cork lids and sealed with wax.

For those not worried about travelling light, there are calfskin-leather photo albums (from €76) with thick, ivory pages and acid-free tissue papers, as well as hand-sewn notebooks (from €51) for sketching (in my case, the picturesque coastline). A medieval-inspired range of notebooks (€122) featuring soft covers, as well as more traditional marbled-paper and leather versions (from €42), round out the journal offerings, while books decorated with fish, galleons, mermaids or vibrant sea coral (from €8.50) make for a more unusual choice of seaside souvenirs.

But what truly wows is La Scuderia del Duca’s Plexiglas floor (first picture) – a contemporary touch that allows a view of the endless stacks of multicoloured paper below – and floods the space with light. It is just one more unexpected touch in a shop that seamlessly melds old-world techniques and materials with a design sensibility that is thoroughly of the moment.

Up to standard

Innovative, unusual homewares with industrial-design flair

Bottle-openers aren’t usually items that draw a crowd, but those at Fort Standard’s e-tail outlet are an exception. Created by Brooklyn-based designers Gregory Buntain and Ian Collings and cast in solid brass, the Crest openers (first picture, from $44 each) and the Crown openers ($80) have a sculptural tactility that’s compelling. And they’re just some of an appealing pick-and-mix of offbeat items made by the duo.

The online emporium – an offshoot of the Fort Standard contemporary industrial-design studio and product-consultancy agency – features ready-to-buy highlights. Bijoux homeware steals the limelight, from geometric-disc candleholders cut from stone and finished with leather on the undersides ($48) to a trio of glass vessels with cork stoppers topped with turned-hardwood handles ($240). Like the bottle-openers, these are simple yet striking pieces.

Fort Studio’s ready-made furniture and lighting provide a taste of the larger collections that can be commissioned and customised to suit a client’s needs. The exquisite Grade stools ($250) showcase the firm’s attention to detail and masterful joinery, while the Foundation lights ($375) are ethereal toadstool-esque creations crafted from marble and wood. These smaller objects merely hint at the full wow factor of the metal Sprue candelabras (second picture, from $2,400), the Column dining table (third picture, $7,500) and the Plane mirror (from $1,900) that are also part of the pair’s more wide-ranging oeuvres.

The name Fort Standard is a fusion of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, where the artists trained, and their “commitment to a high-quality product and high aesthetics”, explains Collings. And indeed, this e-shop does set a particular standard in superior product design – it’s certainly something to drink to, so that bottle-opener will come in handy.

An illuminating solution

Chic upcycled-plastic-bottle pendant lamps – made by Colombian artisans

Faced with the environmental problem that tonnes of discarded plastic bottles pose to the Colombian Amazon, psychologist and conservationist Hélène Le Drogou and Madrid-based product designer Alvaro Catalán de Ocón worked together to come up with an illuminating solution – quite literally.

Inspired by traditional Colombian weaving techniques, Catalán de Ocón conceived of a series of colourful lampshades made using discarded plastic bottles. With the advice of Artesanías de Colombia and the backing of the Coca-Cola Company, the duo established an ethical and economically sustainable Bogotá-based workshop of artisans (who had been displaced by the country’s guerilla warfare) to produce a collection of shades.

Based on the shape of bamboo Japanese tea stirrers, each PET Lamp is a unique creation that is woven by hand following the bottles’ original form. The lines where the plastic moulds meet serve as horizontal and vertical references for the cutting and spinning, and the top of each bottle remains in tact in order to connect the electrical components to the lampshade. The various designs reflect the different ethnic groups who have woven the shades: for example, the Emperara-Siapadara, who hail from the country’s warmer climes, use palm-tree fronds and natural dyes in their pieces; while the Guambianos, who live in the colder Andes, incorporate wool and cotton into their work.

First showcased at the Spazio Rossana Orlandi store in Milan, the textural lights were spotted by Jasper Conran, who secured UK exclusivity for the striking collection of 35 designs at The Conran Shop for their first two months of sale.

Available in eight different sizes (from £90), the lights can also be grouped in sets of three, six, nine, 12 or 21 to make dazzling installations – with colours and designs chosen to fit a specific space. “The PET Lamps are an ingenious way of transforming a discarded piece of waste into a beautiful and desirable product,” says Conran. “I love the way you can group them together to create a charming, fun and unique display – the combination of colours and shapes instantly makes one happy.”

Tara Bernerd talks personal taste: Part One

Interior designer Tara Bernerd is chairman of her eponymous design company. Her latest project is a 47m Turkish superyacht.

Tara Bernerd in her Knightsbridge office. | Image: Jude Edginton

My personal style signifier is a large three-part “Bondage” ring by Loree Rodkin that I wear every day. It has lots of attitude to it. Loree came to my house in London several years ago, emptied her Kelly bag full of jewellery on my bed, and I selected it from the wonderful pile. It isn’t very conventional, but neither am I. Browns, 24-27 South Molton Street, London W1 (020-7514 0016; brownsfashion.com). www.loreerodkin.com and see Browns.

The last thing I bought and loved was a lens table by B&B Italia. I recently moved and had very little furniture, so I needed a dining and work table quickly. I wandered into the Brompton Road showroom and they had the table on hand and let me take it right off the floor. My white and glass version serves as the centrepiece in my new home. From £438; 250 Brompton Rd, London SW3 (020-7591 8111; www.bebitalia.it).

A Murano-glass vase from Talisman, £345.

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a 1940s or 1950s Murano-glass ashtray or vase from Talisman. I collect these chunky, sculptural pieces and I follow the inventory to see what has come up. Ashtrays, from £260; vases, from £345; 79-91 New King’s Road, London SW6 (020-7731 4686; www.talismanlondon.com).

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the last year is Göcek in southern Turkey. I sailed with a group of friends on a gulet called Cobra King through stunningly beautiful turquoise waters. This part of Turkey is truly untouched and magical; our chef cooked wonderful local delicacies such as menemen, a scrambled egg dish with tomatoes. The whole scene was like an opulent Dutch painting, complete with terracotta scenery and the scent of sweet pine. From €21,000 a week through Inter Yacht Charter (020-8099 5941; www.interyachtcharter.com).

The beauty staple I’m never without is Yves Saint Laurent lipstick Rouge Volupté #2, a creamy-beige hue that is increasingly difficult to find. The other is Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood, a perfume that was given to me by a friend when I was 19 years old, and that I’ve worn ever since. £50 for 50ml; www.viviennewestwood.co.uk. £23.50; www.yslbeauty.co.uk.

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a white Alexander McQueen smoking-type jacket. I will wear it for evening this summer – it will look perfect paired with Rick Owens jeans and a James Perse T-shirt. 4-5 Old Bond Street, London W1 (020-7355 0088; www.alexandermcqueen.com).

A bay off Göcek, Fethiye, Turkey. | Image: Alamy

A recent “find” is the restaurant La Bodega Negra. The whole thing is clever, from the hidden entrance via a “sex shop” to the authentic, old-school Mexican feel of the space. It is edgy yet intimate – and feels like an escape to New York City really, due to its lack of formality and interesting clientele. The margaritas and roast chicken are fantastic. 9 Old Compton Street, London W1 (020-7758 4100; labodeganegra.com).

The last music I downloaded was Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. I Shazamed it from TV; I thought it was a pensive song and I like listening to it in quieter moments. www.shazam.com.

Lens tables by B&B Italia, from £438.

The books on my bedside table are varied, and are usually historical, or fiction. I am currently reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, which I love for its look into society. Atlas Shrugged is always on my bedside table in Switzerland; I love Dagny’s quote about the “exhilaration of action”, which I can relate to.

In my fridge you’ll always find… not very much! Not even water, as I prefer it at room temperature. You might find Diet Coke, or fennel, which I like raw with olive oil and a bit of salt. On occasion there will also be salad greens and fresh parmesan cheese.

Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood, £50 for 50ml.

The best gift I’ve received recently is a pair of Troy Lee-designed Rossignol skis. I am an avid skier and getting these fluorescent-pink carving beauties made me feel like I was 12 years old again. www.rossignol.com.

My favourite websites are 1st Dibs, for the mix of antiques from both the UK and the US; Stylepark, a search engine for design; and MyDeco, full of home things from my good friend Brent Hoberman. I also love his site Made.com, for great deals in design. www.1stdibs.com. www.made.com. www.mydeco.com. www.stylepark.com.

Exquisite ceramics inspired by nature and prehistory

A south-west ceramicist who creates beautiful sculptural pieces

I am by no means a fine-art collector, but I do love what I love; and for the past 10 years I’ve been rather obsessed with the work of Paul Philp, an under-the-radar ceramicist based in Bath.

I came to know his work through the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show in New York (his gallerist brother, Richard, was exhibiting old master drawings, medieval and renaissance sculpture and antiquities) – and, it seems, I’ve followed him all the way back to Britain. I recently decided to track him down and learn a bit more about his unusual craft, over a decade since I first purchased one of his pieces: an exquisitely simple white bowl that is still the centrepiece of my sitting room.

Inspired by “nature and geology, as well as weathered monuments such as Stonehenge”, Philp’s work is unlike most other items you’re likely to find on the contemporary ceramics market. Each of his lovingly created bowls, vessels and sculptures grows organically as he builds it piece by piece – adding the clay slowly by hand, rather than using a wheel. With a mix of Devon ball clay, Staffordshire fire clay and earthenware clay, as well as sea sand, tree bark and crushed firebricks, he produces a wide range of textures and encrusted surfaces. Between the firings at extreme temperatures (there can be up to five, with both gas and electric kilns used), Philp carves, refines and adds colour to his pieces – brushed-on iron and copper oxides are sealed in white or wet clay – for an overall effect that is full of subtle fissures and crags, each emitting a delicate glaze.

While he creates a wide array of dark and light pieces, Philp tends to prefer white or neutral shades, and feels his work is best suited to the indoors, where it is spared both water and frost. His sculptural creations – mostly ranging in height from 15cm to 35cm – are both classical in form and Asian in feel.

“I have a flint boulder found on the beach at Charmouth,” he told me, “that is as good as any Henry Moore”. My sentiments – about his work – exactly.

Richard Philp Gallery, 7 Ravenscourt Square, London W6 (020-8748 5678; www.richardphilp.com). Prices start from £900.

Around the World with Designer Tara Bernerd

The British designer on her new office in New York and where she'd like to go next.

Tara Bernerd creates cinematic, welcoming spaces with raw materials. That’s her specialty. It’s what has endeared the British designer to a growing international client base that includes the Thompson and Sixty hotel groups, Belgraves, Aspinalls, and as of next year, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The former film student draws inspiration from a diverse array of sources—from Tim Burton to Luis Barragán—and from her offices in Belgravia, London’s toniest neighborhood, Bernerd oversees a growing staff of architects and designers who help realize the environments she conceives.

Bernerd’s foray into the hospitality space is no happy accident: She is the daughter of international property tycoon Elliott Bernerd, whose own investments have included the Westbury hotels, Wentworth Golf Club, and, most recently, the Philip Johnson-designed AT&T building in New York. Not the type to sail through life on her privilege, Bernerd left school at the age of 16 and worked her way into interior design via stints at British Vogue and in marketing and PR, before connecting with John Hitchcox, the cofounder of global property design firm Yoo. Working with Hitchcox and his partner, Philippe Starck, Bernerd helped to launch its boutique practice, Yoo Too, before moving on to found her eponymous firm in 2002.

Beginning as a small organization focused on private and residential work, Tara Bernerd & Partners has since grown to include hotels, yachts, restaurants, and mixed-use spaces, with projects currently under way from Hong Kong to Hollywood. Bernerd delights in the diversity of her firm’s output, including textile designs for The Rug Company and interior architecture and design for Herzog & de Meuron’s forthcoming 472-unit residential tower in Canary Wharf.

What’s next for the peripatetic Bernerd, who spends more than half the year on the road?  World hotel and residential domination, it seems, with even more aspirational-yet-approachable spaces slated for Central Park South, Shanghai, and Scandinavia in the months ahead. Later this fall she’ll open a New York office to accommodate an increasingly large U.S. market for her serene, slightly edgy environments. Surfacerecently met with Bernerd at her Hans Street headquarters to discuss the need for beautiful art and bold use of color when establishing a special sense of place, and the importance of good food, acoustics, and lighting.

You worked with Philippe Starck and developer John Hitchcox to launch Yoo Too.  How did this come to be?

Early in my career I received some press and the attention of a few people in the industry, including John Hitchcox. I went to work for him and became a partner, collaborating with Philippe on all of the design, but I was also scouting for new locations all over the world. It was an incredible time for me personally, and also in terms of what was happening in global hotel design. The mantra had always been “location, location, location,” and the focus has shifted to “location, location, design.”

You founded your eponymous firm in 2002. What spurred you on? 

It was partly instinctive and partly personal, but I am a full-on, one-way person, so doing my own company after Yoo felt like a natural progression. I didn’t sit down and write a business plan, but I found an office and made sure that I had at least one client so that I could pay the rent. We had two architects and a temp to answer phones when we got our first two projects. The first came from [founder of the Berkeley Group] Tony Pidgley, who’s one of the biggest developers in the U.K. He gave me a job redesigning an old telephone exchange. The second project came from gallerist Jay Jopling. We worked on his first Shoreditch space. I started the firm hoping that what I loved doing would look good enough for others to like it—taste is so subjective, after all. Initially we did more private, residential work, and now we’re very strong in commercial, loft buildings, towers, and projects like the one we’re doing with Herzog & de Meuron at Canary Wharf.

You studied at London Film School. How does that time inform your design practice?

Because of my training, I see everything in shot form. I storyboard all of my projects, and much like making a film, my property design projects require many different, skillful, creative people. Every hotel is a team effort between the architect, the landscaper, the chefs. Like the film business, where you have your directors, producers, and cinematographers, there is just so much to the show. You want a hotel or restaurant to look great, sure, but at the end of the day it’s got to make money. And in our case, the hotel rooms need to be filled.

Who have been your mentors or the people who inspire you?

Richard Rogers has been an amazing driving force of encouragement throughout my career. In terms of others whose work I admire and have had an impact on me: Tadao Ando for his use of raw materials, and Pierre Chareau, particularly his Maison de Verre in Paris. His use of metals, rubber flooring, and glass in the 1930s was just incredible. Tim Burton is another strong influence.

Do you have a signature style? 

People describe our work as “industrial chic,” but I don’t think we have a signature look. We are about what’s appropriate to an environment, though there are common threads throughout our work. I prefer monotone colors, concrete, metals, lacquer, and raw materials that are a bit edgy. I’m about a more handsome design rather than a pretty, girly look. A huge amount of warmth comes from our work because we layer spaces. Our vibe is strong.

Who are your clients? 

Our current projects include the Four Seasons in Fort Lauderdale, which is a combination of a resort, restaurants, and private homes. We’re working on the new Thompson Hotel in Hollywood, as well as the Russell Hotel in London for Barry Sternlicht and Starwood Capital Group, and we’re about to start projects in Hong Kong and Stockholm as well. A new project for Sixty is in the cards. In general, we have a lot of repeats because we get on well with people.

How do you approach restaurant design?

We’ve designed a few stand-alone restaurants and also ones that are part of a hotel, and in either case both acoustics and lighting are hugely important. Beyond aesthetics, however, the most important piece is the cuisine. Ideally, we know who the chef is from the outset so we know the environment we’re trying to create for the type of food to be served. It’s about working with the menus, the essence of the place, and the bar. We can do an amazing design and you can get away with a lot if the food isn’t great, but when the staff clicks, the uniforms are just right, and the music is perfect—that makes for a winning restaurant.

What has been the biggest challenge in terms of a project?

I worked with the stylish Aaron Leyland on Belgraves, and for some reason the builders put up ugly brick walls just before the opening night. I walked in and saw the bricks and declared, “We can’t open like this! It has to be sandblasted!” They were too red, too smooth, and the grout was terrible. Aaron sandblasted every wall, at great expense. Truthfully, I don’t know a project that doesn’t have a challenge.

What trends are you seeing in travel, and in the hotel space in particular? 

People want warmth, a residential feel, from hotels. I love the Edition in South Beach, and Sixty is my home in New York—they take care of me, so the people make the experience. Art is terribly important, and people like Aby Rosen have been able to bring a high level into play. I think people want simple technology. They don’t want to be shown how to use their rooms. Even if something is very modern, they want a sense of association, a lounge area to drink a coffee or have a club sandwich. And this is evolving. Hotels play an enormous role today. They’re not just where we go on holiday, or to visit cities, but they are the homes of tomorrow.

What makes a great hotel a “home of tomorrow?”

Today there are so many nomads—single people, divorcées—that hotels are a home away from home, with many people choosing to leave a case for regular stays. It’s not just about design. A great hotel has to smell good, the concierge has to be top-notch, the uniforms have to be aesthetically pleasing, and the food is important, too. It’s a big melting pot of vulnerability: Hotels are in the mega-challenge league of design because everything has to work perfectly.

Who is nailing it now?

Ilse Crawford with Ett Hem Stockholm. It’s basically a private home we can stay in. The Villa TreVille in Positano is another example of perfection. These are both 12 to 15 rooms done by people who can afford to do them as they would their own residences. Yabu Pushelberg does great hotel design work now, as does David Collins Studio in the restaurant space.

With so many far-flung projects, how do you keep your work and life in balance? 

I travel half the year, so some would say that that isn’t very balanced, but I am passionate about my work. I’m a good traveler, and I don’t get jet lag. I balance my work with nature: I hike in the mountains on the weekends, where the views are epic, and I walk my dogs. When I’m in Miami I get up early, run on the beach, dive in the ocean, and go to work. I have terrific friends and family and this helps a lot. Work trips with my team are a pleasure, so this keeps me in balance.

What’s next for you?

I really enjoy working in the U.S., and it’s why I’ve committed to opening an office in New York. I want to continue working in the U.K., Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. And who wouldn’t want to go to Cuba?