TOM FORD | A SINGLE MAN

Waking up begins with saying am and now. This is the first line of Christopher Isherwood's A Single Man and also the first line of Tom Ford's film based on the novella. It's a wrenching first-scene as Colin Firth's character George Falconer, learns of the sudden death of his long-time lover [played beautifully by Matthew Goode]. A Single Man is the most poetically captivating film I've seen since Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. And, Tom Ford's directorial debut is brilliant. Each scene, whether filmed as a flashback or not, translates like a memory—the light, the tempo, and depth of the moment. Each shot is precise, with intimate close-ups and ethereal pauses that are artful but never cliche. Colin Firth is hypnotic in his Oscar-worthy portrayal of protagonist George and Julianne Moore is amazing—with her tousled hair and cocktails—as a sixties divorcee and George's best friend, Charley. The George and Charley scenes magnify the core of each character's despair and loneliness and hold a visual aesthetic that I could watch again and again. Amidst the sadness, A Single Man delivers life-affirming moments—the "buttered toast" smell of a dog's head, and the sudden act of an owl taking flight as a metaphor for the clarity that awakens within George. It's a film about living in the moment and appreciating the small things in life—and it's excellent each step of the way.

Tom Ford with Julianne Moore, Paris Vogue, Feb. 2010 via English Muse

Production Company: Fade to Black, Depth of Field
Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult, Jon Kortajarena
Director: Tom Ford
Screenwriters: Tom Ford, David Scearce based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood
Producers: Tom Ford, Chris Weitz, Andrew Miano, Roberto Salerno with Jason Alisharan
Cinematography: Eduard Grau
Production Design: Dan Bishop
Art Direction: Ian Phillips
Set Decoration: Amy Wells
Music: Abel Korzeniowski, Shigeru Umebayashi
Costume Design: Arianne Phillips
Editor: Joan Sobel
Casting: Joseph Middleton

ICONS MEET | MONROE & SANDBURG

It was a December afternoon in 1961 that photographer Len Stickler photographed two American icons, Marilyn Monroe and author/poet Carl Sandburg. Marilyn was apparently three hours late for her visit because she was at her hairdresser trying to match her hair-color to Carl's. Carl Sandburg was 83 and Marilyn Monroe was 35. And, as the afternoon passed... a deep bond was formed between them. Sadly, Monroe would die just eight months later. Today, Len Stickler's photographs of this remarkable afternoon visit go on sale. I found a Sandburg poem that he could have written for Marilyn.

WHITE SHOULDERS

YOUR white shoulders
I remember
And your shrug of laughter.

Low laughter
Shaken slow
From your white shoulders.

LATTICE | TREILLAGE | CHINOISERIE

Late 19th century garden room with treillage effects [The French Archive of Design and Decoration by Stafford Cliff]

Whether it's to bring the garden indoors or to create walls of airy chic, I love the lattice pattern in design and interiors. Ancient lattice looked like fisherman's net and was used in warm Middle Eastern countries to keep the sun out and allow the air to flow freely—much like the modern day screen block, that was used in Palm Springs in the 1950s and 60s. Treillage can be traced back to the 12th century when used to support the vines growing on simple French farms, and on to the 17th century where it appeared in the formal gardens of Versailles. From the royal palaces of Europe, treillage made its way to cities where architects and designers embraced its use from building facades to elegant interiors. At the turn of the century, it was first introduced to America by decorator Elsie de Wolfe in her Trellis Room at the Colony Club. In the 1930s, the use of chinoiserie bamboo and lattice found a glamorous spot in the houses of the Hollywood Regency Style. And, today the trellis motif is still a favorite of the country's best decorators. To follow are some of my dog-eared pages of trellis/lattice inspiration.

Elsie de Wolfe's Trellis Room at the Colony Club
[original 120 Madison Avenue location]
photo courtesy of gutenberg


Trellis Room photo from British House and Garden magazine


Also from The French Archive of Design and Decoration, David Herbert's Tangier veranda with trompe l'oeil lattice painted by Lawrence Mynott

Sculptor, Daniel Chester French [1850-19310] house Chesterwood in Stockbridge, Masschusetts
photo, my dog-eared pages


Trellis on my grandfather's house [architect Alfred A. Scheffer] Amagansett, Long Island house
photo courtesy of Newsday, Ike Eichorn


Trellis panels on Dominick and Lenny Dunne's Walden Drive house in Beverly Hills, 1960
photo from The Way We Lived Then


Sarah Jessica Parker in a chic pale blue trellised room, Vogue

Anne Harwell's [annechovie] Chinoiserie and Orange It's Complicated chair silhouettes


Meg Braff Interiors, yellow Chinese Lattice fabric headboards and bedskirts


Meg Braff Interiors, Bob Collins Chinese Lattice wallpaper from Todd Romano


Tom Scheerer's Lyford Trellis wallpaper for Quadrille at Lyford Cay Club


Yellow Lattice Lamps from Pieces


Dek Tillett Lattice in Rosemary from Todd Romano, House of KWID's Imperial Trellis from F. Schumacher

TWIGGY | THE SUPERMODEL

I idolized Twiggy growing up and even got the famous haircut in fifth grade. The National Portrait Gallery in London celebrates Twiggy and her 60th birthday with a photographic exhibition highlighting definitive moments in her cover girl career. Twiggy's iconic status exemplified Swinging London—named for the city's vibrant fashion and cultural scene in the 1960s. With her boyish haircut, waif-like bod and bold lashes, Twiggy created a look that illustrates an era. To accompany the exhibition [on through March], The National Portrait Gallery has published a book | Twiggy: A Life in Photographs.

BLOOMINGDALES CHALLENGE

Have you cast your vote for the Bloomingdales Window Challenge? I think of the three choices, it might come down to two. Eddie Ross competing for Elle Décor uses bold and groovy pieces in his room including the blue lamps and orange pop-art print by Campbell Laird, set against Hinson's spatter-paint wallpaper. Great pink & orange touches, too. Apartment Therapy founder, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan's writer's room is a strong contender as well. I love the trompe l'oeil bookcases painted by Mark Chamberlain [artist and resident Color Therapist at Apartment Therapy] juxtaposed against Neisha Crosland's Birdtree wallpaper. Chamberlain's earthy palette and bookcases with objects were inspired by the famous Gubbio Period Room at the MET. Good luck to all and don't forget to cast your vote!

SET DESIGN | THE SKIRTED ROUNDTABLE

I love decorating and I love movies. Last week the gals from The Skirted Roundtable sat down with Set Decorator, Beth Rubino. This podcast is full of interesting tidbits from the intrinsic value the set decoration adds to an actor's art form, to sources of inspiration [like the dining room in Something's Gotta Give] to the roles of a prop master, set decorator, art director and much more. Grab a cup of tea and listen!!

AN EDUCATION | GOLDEN GLOBES

Every so often a wonderful film comes along like An Education from director Lone Scherfig. It's a British indie coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s London starring newcomer, Carey Mulligan. She is a wonderful actress and is nominated for a Golden Globe [best performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama] and I hope she wins. She plays a complex character and delivers a stunning, breakout performance. I loved everything about this film [including the soundtrack] and will be delighted if Ms. Mulligan and An Education gets the recognition it deserves! It's an absolute gem.

FLOWERS | WHARHOL

It's freezing here at the beach so I'm looking at
Warhol's book Flowers, Flowers, Flowers.

"They put out a MOOD that makes them even
more beautiful."

I think he's right.

PANTONE'S COLOR DIBS FOR 2010

We move from Mimosa in 2009 to Turquoise 15-5519 as Pantone puts dibs on the color for interiors and fashion trends in 2010. The color is believed to be a "protective talisman" and "a color of deep compassion and healing." Executive director, Leatrice Eiseman also states that Turquoise "represents an escape to many." The color has wide appeal and according to the experts "adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens." We'll see! All of the Turquoise-y items shown here are available on 1stdibs.

TURNING THE PAGE | 2010

I love this photo from the Associated Press of New Year's Eve revelers silhouetted against the glow of Times Square. Happy New Year everyone! I am slowly reviving and coming out from under blankets. Today, I head to Maine to make the Roquefort Soufflé for good friends. I'll be off to a slow start this week as I continue to feel better and dig out from the snow. The New Year's Eve moon has created a wonderful "blue air" here at the beach—scented with snow, the ocean and driftwood fires. Best wishes for all!