Collections Transform a House Into a Home: The Art of Collecting
As I transform my Venice apartment into a home, I take pleasure in the process of unpacking the pieces I’ve collected and arranging (and re-arranging!) them into tableaus that please my eye. The French art of mise en scène – putting things in place – to give my home the ambiance and personality that I want to project. For guests of course, but I honestly arrange my collections for myself.
What is your definition of home? I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a house a home… for me it’s a space filled with people and laughter in the air. Fabulous smells coming from the kitchen, open bottles of wine and champagne always on tap. It’s antiques and family heirlooms, next to flea market finds and objet d’art, and the odd pieces of Ikea. It’s window boxes and shutters and flowers in every room and candles alongside cozy places to read. A real home is a mix of high and low… beautifully choreographed moments for a life well lived. I’m a natural collector. But how does one start a collection? Today my favorite dandy (j’adore being called The Dandy and The Diva!), Gary Inman is sharing with us his expert advice on the art of collecting. Don’t miss Gary’s favorite books on the art of collecting!
Featured image: William Morris textiles and wallpaper set the tone for this Virginia mudroom. The table is an antique Chippendale inspired fretwork design. English tole, majolica, and French garden finials provide character to the space. The bespoke herringbone floor is by Waterworks.
All images provided by Gary Inman
The Art of Collecting
Everyone is a collector, some just don’t know it yet. After twenty-five years of designing and decorating luxury homes, I have had many clients insist that they’re not collectors, only to become impassioned collectors once they discover their genre. Helping them find their passion has been one of the most rewarding parts of my practice. If you think back to your childhood, you’ll surely recall something you collected with unbridled enthusiasm. It can be as simple as sea shells or baseball cards, but regardless of value, nothing surpasses the thrill of the chase! The objects amassed can be costly or free, academic or whimsical, and the collection can be as small as three objects or as massive as a museum.
This New York home is filled with romantic and genre scene art. This grouping includes Maurice Prendergast, Moses Soyer, Maximilien Luce, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The gilded frames were made in Paris. The mahogany piano is a restored Steinway from the early twentieth-century.
As an art historian, I have always admired the erudite collections amassed by legendary collectors such as Henry Francis Dupont, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Sir Richard Wallace, Albert Barnes, Richard Jenrette or Henry Clay Frick. Their mammoth collections are now available to the world at museums and historic buildings devoted to the conservation of their achievements. Some collectors become as famous at their curations which are significantly autobiographical. Gertrude Stein, Carolyne Roehm, Coco Chanel and my personal favorite, Sir John Soane are examples of this phenomenon. I encourage you to visit all the museums associated with these collectors.
This home was designed for a serious collector of American fine furniture and folk art. The quilt is an 18th-century masterpiece from Baltimore and the secretary hails from Philadelphia.
This project was for a dear friend and showcased her collection of Wedgewood basalt in a dramatic and colorful way. Robert Adam would have approved the use of sky blue behind these classical forms.
So how do you become a collector? I suggest you begin by doing your homework. Read the books I’ve listed below, visit antique shops and shows, research various categories such as ceramics, silver, textiles, art, antiques, illustrations, the list is endless. Also, survey auction houses and online dealers and wait for the magic to happen. You will discover a passion that will bring you joy for a lifetime! Once you buy that first piece you’ll be hooked.
In my opinion antiques are always appropriate, even in a boutique hotel. This is the Dunhill Hotel in Uptown Charlotte, NC. The owner requested a very “British” character which allowed me to use objects from around the world. No one loves collecting more than the Brits. The sideboard is a 19th-century Chinese design I purchased from Clubcu in High Point.
This entrance vignette gave me a chance to indulge my passion for blue and white porcelain. I love mixing antique and modern, and high and low in these groupings. Add fresh roses for a punch of color and this becomes the perfect first impression.
There are many books on collecting, but here are three that I found to be great references:
- Barbara Milo Ohrbach, A Passion for Antiques. Clarkson Potter/Publishers, New York, 2004.
- Charlotte Gere and Marina Vaizey, Great Women Collectors. Philip Wilson Publishers in association with Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1999.
- Caroline Clifton-Mogg, A Passion for Collecting. Bulfinch Press, Boston, 2002.
Commissioned paintings can be central to an art collection. Lea Barksdale’s bold blue stripe leads the eye up the 3 level staircase. Erika Vaden (left) captured the spirit of Cy Twombly in this vibrant blue calligraphy inspired painting.
Piranesi engravings, an old book press, bronze urns, and Spanish alabaster lamps give this library a very classical bearing. The ceiling ornamentation is a restoration of the original Tudor strapwork design based on photography. My first designer showhouse room, it was tapped for publication in Traditional Home.
Gary M. Inman
Vice President, Hospitality at Baskerville
Blog: The Art of Fine Living
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/garyi/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/garyinman/
Inspiring Ideas for Using Books as Decor
I am a book collector. I don’t use books as decor, I love to read books – not on my iPad – I like bound books made with real paper. One of the tragedies of my life was when we lost all our belongings in a Thanksgiving night fire in Berlin… years of cherished and collected books gone in the flash of a candle’s wick. Out of that loss came a whole new library of books given to us by dear friends and Antiques Diva readers – books that have now made the journey with me to Venice and line the shelves of my office, are stacked on the floor of my living room and cover every inch of surface on my bedside tables. J’adore Rome Antiques Diva Guide Désirée’s new ideas on how to use books – even antique books – as decor. I’ll be incorporating a couple of these ideas ca Toma.
3 Smart Methods For Using Books as Decor
Désirée Marie Townley, Rome Antiques Diva Guide
I’m of the same mind as Cicero on this one… I think that having books in your home is essential. I have a habit of picking up books while traveling. My favorite souvenirs are antique, hardbound novels by an author who had written in the particular city I am visiting. I bought Jack Kerouac in Oregon, Hemingway in Paris, and Robert Louis Stevenson in Scotland. Rekindling beautiful memories while going about your daily rituals, is a classic DIVA move!
Unlike other holiday purchases, like a ridiculous T-shirt or another coffee mug, a well-cultivated library can be used in multiple ways around your home.
#1 Books as a Knife Holder
Some of the most practical pieces in our home can be an eyesore, so I love this charming solution to an annoying issue.
I keep my knives separated by size and shape, making the division provided by the book covers ideal. Depending on your needs, the covers can be glued together for additional stability, however, it isn’t necessary.
Supplies:
- Books – You could use vintage cookbooks, but I like to have my cookbooks easily accessible. Instead, I used 3 books I have thoroughly read that were not completely precious to me. The books should have a hardcover and I recommend something quite long- the thicker the book, the more stable the base.
- Rope – I used a piece of old rope (this, in particular, was a Ralph Lauren rope-belt with leather tipped ends that I picked up at a thrift store for one dollar).
Note: Make sure you dry your knives properly before putting them away, as the water easily damages the books.
#2 Books as Floating Shelves
- I bought these floating book mounts on Amazon:
- The mounts are easily attached to the wall and create a whimsical ledge on which the most beautiful pieces of your library become additional space for lamps, eyeglasses by your bedside, or even a fabulous hat.
- Choose within a theme: books you intend to read, your favorite books, books which evoke strong memories, or even books that provide a pop of a complementary color to the space.
#3 Books as Pedestals for Antiques
I am a Stylist, not a Librarian, so I have no problem organizing my library by color. If your brain works differently than mine, you may stack books by author or subject.
- Simply stack a group of books from large to small.
- Place the books absolutely anywhere! I like to use them as a solution for hiding cords or unsightly details at home. I stack them to cover an unruly lamp cord, or in empty spaces that are easily accessible to a potential reader. Truly, ANYWHERE!
- Place some of your favorite objects on top, to highlight your treasures and collections and help elevate them into art.
Unique Christian Dior Scarf Up For Auction Saturday
I don’t often share items for sale on The Antiques Diva blog, but this scarf by Christian Dior is so special I knew you would want to know – and maybe bid on it! My dear friend Mark Hill alerted me to this Saturday’s online auction at Dawson’s featuring this unique silk scarf.
I love incorporating vintage clothing into my wardrobe – it’s wearable art! While I often drape a boldly colored scarf around my neck or bag to add a punch of color, I also decorate with silk scarves! In my own home, I tied brightly colored Hermes scarves around pillows on my white leather couch. I’ve been shopping for a special vintage scarf to frame and hang in my boudoir – one I can easily take down and wear when the mood strikes! #DivaTip: Hermes scarf display kit attaches your precious scarf using magnets, so the material is never damaged!
Hermes silk scarves refresh pillows on my white leather sofa
Mark Hill told me the silk Christian Dior silk scarf:
was a personal gift c1955 from Christian Dior himself to concert pianist Marion Stein when she was the Countess of Harewood – it seems he gave such scarves to his favoured clients at the time, with each one personalised with the name of the recipient. Stein’s husband, the Earl of Harewood, was 6th in line to the British throne at the time, so he had to ask permission to marry her! They drifted apart when the Earl fell in love with another woman and, after her divorce, she married Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal party. Yes – this is the same Jeremy Thorpe who is currently being played by Hugh Grant in the BBC’s ‘A Very English Scandal.’
The only other examples of this scarf (given to and named for other clients of Dior’s) that I can find are in the Henry Ford Museum and the Musee de la Mode in Paris.
A unique mid-1950s Christian Dior cream silk scarf, screenprinted in black, brown, orange, blue, and yellow with a design inspired by Prehistoric cave paintings, and the wording “ce carré de soie a été réalisé pour Christian Dior d’après les peintures des Grottes de la Dordogne et spécialement imprimé pour Madame le Comtesse de Harewood.” (This square of silk was made for Christian Dior after the paintings of the caves of the Dordogne eand specially printed for Madame the Countess of Harewood), also screenprinted ‘Charin – Paris’, 83cm by 86cm.
As it is unlikely that the descendents of the other recipients will sell such a piece, this is a rare opportunity to own a very personal gift from Christian Dior, who was at the height of his career, to a lady with a fascinating life.
Lot 322: A UNIQUE MID-1950S CHRISTIAN DIOR CREAM SILK SCARF, SCREENPRINTED IN BLACK
Cocktails, #DivaStyle: Venetian Spritz Recipe
Cocktail hour is de riguer, ca Toma. Whatever the time of day, my antique Spanish secretary is stocked and ready to indulge. In January I shared with you one of my favorite cocktails, a French 75 – what I call Coco Chanel with a Dagger. While I’ll always be a champagne girl, since moving to Venice, I’ve adopted a new favorite aperitivo: a Spritz! sweet, bitter, citrusy, sparkling and slightly salty, a Spritz is delightful any time of day!
Nearly every trace of Austria’s occupation of Venice in the 19th century is gone, except the Spritz! Made with white wine and sparkling water, Hapsburg soldiers brought ‘sprizzen’ to Venice. While keeping the name, Venice added the attitude and the color with a dash of bitter orange flavored liqueur.
When in Venice, expect to pay around €2.50 – unless you too are addicted the Gritti Hotel, where I happily pay €15 for the ambiance and views. Your Spritz can also be made with Aperol or Campari – slightly sweeter or more bitter. While Aperol is my favorite, Select is perhaps less well known around the world so I want to share with you my recipe for a summer Venetian Spritz – Select style! If you prefer Campari or Aperol, just substitute bitters!
Speaking of substitutions, of course ca Toma I substitute the white wine with prosecco!
Ca Toma with a Spritz and watching Netflix at my 17th-century Spanish secretary turned bar in my Venetian kitchen
Venetian Spritz Recipe
• 4 ounces prosecco
• Sparkling water
• 1 ½ to 2 ounces Select
• Orange slice
• 1 green olive
In a white wine glass over three or four ice cubes, pour the prosecco, a splash of sparkling water and the Select -, in that order so the Select sinks to the bottom. Garnish with a slice of orange and an olive.
BOOK AN ANTIQUES DIVA Buying Tour to Italy
Book an antique buying tour to Italy – and be sure to include Venice on your itinerary, I’d love to introduce you to Toma’s Venice!
Saluti!
Toma – The Antiques Diva
Toma Clark Haines Takes Over: HPMKT Instagram Takeovers
I just attended High Point Spring Market, a must-do on the interior design circuit, held twice yearly in High Point, NC. In addition to leading 4 events, I was an Instagram trend-spotter for High Point Market @HPMKT and a style spotter for The Chaise Lounge@thechaiselounge taking over their Instagram pages to share what I thought was Hot this Spring!
Before you read which vendors and products were the best of #HPMKT – Mark your calendars for this Fall 2018 when my furniture collection launches at High Point Market at Aidan Gray Home!
Delighted to Be an #HPMKT Trendspotter
Spring Market 2018 Instagram Takeover Team
Here are my #designinspirations from Spring High Point Market on Instagram to help you discover what’s hot, inspiring and trending:
Follow @highpointmarket #designonhpmkt #hpmkt #designinspiration #interiordesign #interiorinspo #interiordesigners
From #TomaClarkHaines – aka – @TheAntiquesDiva: I’m channeling #CocoChanel today at the @antiquedesignct at #HPMKT with vendor #MichaelDeLoach and @CandaceDeloach. This delicious 9 foot by 19 feet long chocolate brown intricately carved coromandel screen reminds me of the one in Madamoiselle’s apartment in Paris on the Rue Cambon. The technique of craftsmanship involves layering and carving various layers of different colored clay – moss, teal and tomato – to create a #chinosierie screen. #ParisApartment #Chanel #ParisInteriors #AntiqueDealersofInstagram #AntiquesDiva #Antiques
From #TomaClarkHaines – aka – @TheAntiquesDiva: When it comes to #Antiques Pedigree talks (or in this case Barks!) #WoofWoof #DogsofInstagramWhile I love the Miid century harlequin Great Dane and early 20th C #chinosierie chest of drawers in this vignette being sold by the @firestationguy at the @antiquedesignct of #HPMKT. It’s the 19th C Mirror which has the most stories to tell…. It belonged to Marlon Brando. Oh the #StoriesItCouldTell. #Antiques #AntiquesDiva#AntiqueDealersofInstagram
From #TomaClarkHaines aka @TheAntiquesDiva: A trip to #HPMKT is not complete without visiting @nancypriceinteriordesign located in @Codarus at IHFC H220. #MixedMedia#Artist #AbbyPrice reconfigures geodes and selenite to create #oneofakind #art And while the #pretaporter pieces are divine#nancyprice also takes custom orders for personalized installations. Now that’s #divastyle #antiquesdiva
From #TomaClarkHaines aka @TheAntiquesDiva: Am I allowed to shop for my apartment in #Venice #Italywhile doing my #Hpmkt #instagramtakeover? If so – I must confess that for my apartment near the #GrandCanal I’m considering a two-tone silver rug from @_robinbaron aka #thebaroness for my bedroom. Located at #MarketSquare #SweetDreams #LaDolceVita #AntiquesDiva#VenetianInteriors #toneontone
From #TomaClarkHaines aka @TheAntiquesDiva: Mirror Mirror on the Wall… Who’s the fairest of them all? Stacey Kunstal of @DunesandDuchess is the #belleoftheball sporting @TCHCollection serpentine earrings and posing in her booth 7010 in #marketsquare where the #laquered colors on her custom made furniture and lighting are as bright as her personality! #divastyle #simplebutchic #chicinteriors #lifeofastylist
From #TomaClarkHaines aka @TheAntiquesDiva: If you’ve been following along as I do an #InstagramTakeover of #Hpmkt you’ve already seen one of the top #interiordesigntrends for 2018…. #Chinoiserie. Want to know another #mustbuy #designtrend? Faux Bois! Check out the #enchantedforest at @curreyco
Excited to Be an #TCLPStyleSpotter
The Chaise Lounge is sharing some of my favorite #designinspirations, finds and brands from Spring High Point Market on Instagram to help you discover what’s hot, inspiring and trending:
Follow @thechaiselounge #tclpstylespot #hpmkt #designinspiration #interiordesign #interiorinspo #interiordesigners
From #TomaClarkHaines aka @TheAntiquesDiva #TCLPStyleSpotter
My first stop when heading to #hpmkt is always @AidanGrayHome at 201 North Main for #designinspiration and gorgeous upholstery, lighting and case goods. Utterly obsessed with their Goliath Star Chandelier! I’m considering it for my living room in my apartment in #Venice #Italy to add that #modernluxury touch and some #divastyle#tclpstylespot
From #TomaClarkHaines @TheAntiquesDiva #TCLPStylespotter at #HPMKT
One of my favorite product launches this #HPMKT is the mantel collection from @denisemcgaha with @materialsmarketing at @highlandhousefurniture showroom on 200 Steele #designingwithadeadline #antiquesdiva #dallasdesigner#highlandhouse #dmdesigns Super Chic!
From #TomaClarkHaines aka @TheAntiquesDiva #TCLPStyleSpotter
Have you made your way over to @Theodore_Alexander_Official to Check out the @XanderNoori Collection? It’s being called the best new collection showing at #HPMKT spring 2018!!! Love the pod shaped forms, integrated leather banding and Zaha Hadid-esque shape shifting forms. Congrats Xander! #divastyle #modernluxe
From #TomaClarkHaines @TheAntiquesDiva for #TCLPStyleSpotter at #HPMKT
These #blueandwhitesoap bubble glaze ceramic #decorativeaccents from @howard.elliott would give a #globalchic vibe to any #interior. Special thanks to #BrandAmbassador @justinshaulis for giving me a tour of the #HowardElliott showroom #divastyle #globalsourcing #tclpstylespot
The Details
High Point Spring Market
Fall Market: October 13 – 17, 2018
Don’t miss The Antiques Diva Early Bird Tour of The Antique & Design Center High Point Fall Market!
Toma – The Antiques Diva
Diva Design Inspiration in the Liwa Desert: Gary Inman’s 5 Tips to Get a Sense of Place
Last year I took a solo trip to Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in the Liwa Desert for much needed R&R and design inspiration. Little did I know then that today I’d be designing my new life in a new country, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Venice, Italy. The configurations of my new Venezia apartment are dramatically different than my Berlin loft, just as the configurations of my life are so very different. My design philosophy has always been, “It’s all about the mix.” As this Oklahoma girl has strives to continue to become more global, I want my home to reflect my global influences. I’m blending my antique European treasures with thoroughly modern artwork with a good helping of Asian pieces… and some magical Liwa Desert memories. Here are a few of my desert #DesignInspirations …
My good friend Gary Inman (we’re known as The Diva and The Dandy!) is one of the most renowned hospitality designers in the industry – He is an award-winning designer, author, and professional speaker whose work has been published in Veranda, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, The Washington Post, Southern Accents, Traditional Home, Hotel Design, Home & Design and many others. I asked for his expert advice on creating a sense of place!
Toma Clark Haines, Gary Inman and Jill Irwin
Gary Inman’s 5 Tips for Creating a Sense of Place
This is the way great designers think about crafting the local and authentic experience.
1. Great Design Begins with a Great Story!
Every unique place on the globe has a unique story that only they can tell. Hotels and Resorts are our homes in those locations and they can, and must, enrich the sense of place. As designers we weave a narrative of tangible and intangible references to the history of place. A great story tantalizes all the senses. Research is the foundation……designers must do their homework!
2. Fragrance is the most powerful force in evoking memories and forging new memories.
The spice markets of Istanbul, the flower markets of Amsterdam, the scent of fresh pines at Pinehurst, or the intoxicating aroma of the sea and agave in San Juan Capistrano. Remember the smells from your grandmother’s kitchen… fragrance transports us back to places that have touched us.
3. Art can convey the story of place in the most obvious and powerful ways.
We use local artists and craftspeople to create artwork, lighting, unique case goods, textiles, gardens. “Local and authentic”, a phrase coined for Hilton’s Curio brand, is the mantra of all sophisticated travelers today.
4. Views
One of the most provocative ways to celebrate place is to set up views from rooftops, elevated rooms, spas, and restaurants. Engaging visitors with a spectacular view will connect them emotionally to place. Dining with a view of the Acropolis in Athens, or atop a skyscraper in New York or with views of the bay in San Francisco. Many of the places we visit have singularly unique views in the hands of a skilled architect and designer.
5. Service
Luxury travel is impossible without impeccable, non-obtrusive service. Many of the best stories for the local culture come to us from the staff at hotels and resorts. Many have spent their lives immersed in the culture and history of the location. I never fail to ask for advice from the hotel team, they can be a great treasure trove of stories.
Brilliant, n’est-ce pas? For more design inspiration, follow Gary online. I’ve asked Gary to become a regular contributor to The Antiques Diva blog – I’m looking forward to his next post!
Gary M. Inman
Vice President, Hospitality at Baskerville
Blog: The Art of Fine Living
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/garyi/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/garyinman/
Ciao ciao,
Toma – The Antiques Diva
Midnight in Berlin – End of Year Review With The Antiques Diva
Two weeks ago I packed up my Berlin apartment and shipped everything to Venice, where I move into my new apartment officially in January. I’m spending the holidays in Asia finalizing my new jewelry collection (TCH Collection – Lush Decadence) I’m feeling a bit of end of year nostalgia…
One of my closest friends in Berlin is a German movie director and when we first met he told me, “You remind me of Gertrude Stein. Only living in 21st century Berlin instead of 1930’s Midnight in Paris.Your apartment has a revolving door to all the stylish people from around the world.” Months later a Venetian friend compared me to Peggy Guggenheim and I felt I could have died a happy lady at that moment… today I’m a bit reminiscent looking back at my midnight in Berlin…
In preparation for an interview I was recently asked a few questions about what I do when I’m not working. Not working – what’s that? I’m on holiday in Asia – working on my jewelry launch. I’m moving to Venice – a good location to manage The Antiques Diva & Co. I’ve created a lifestyle that’s a perfect blend of work and pleasure. I love what I do, so depending which day you ask:
- I’m always working.
- I’m never working.
As I look back at my responses, I realize they are a good end of year review of my last year living in Berlin…
A recent gathering Chez Diva in Berlin with Bobby Berk and friends – photo credit Susanne Ollmann
Your company leads Antique Buying Tours in Europe, Asia and America. In what city is your office located?
Have laptop will travel. Nothing was scarier than when I left my laptop in the pocket of the seat in front of me on a recent flight from Washington DC to London. For 4 long days I didn’t have my laptop – and wasn’t sure when or if I’d get it back!
Auf Wiedersehen to Antiques Berlin Diva Headquarters – photo credit Susanne Ollmann
I’ve just departed The Antiques Diva showroom and headquarters in Berlin at Die Alte Maelzerei – a 3-level loft in a fabulous converted brewery – and will be setting up my offices in Venice, Italy.
We’re curious how you feel the world views you? In one word tell us.
#WhereInTheWorldIsTheAntiquesDiva – the # makes it one word!
How do you believe your staff views you?
I’m going to give you two words: Rainmaker and Egalitarian. I own the company and I’m the face of the company and my job is to make things happen… But my staff are all my team members. I couldn’t do my job without them. I truly am nothing without them.
They don’t work for me, but rather we work together. We are a mutually beneficial team.
How do your client’s view you?
I hope my clients see me as an Inspirational. I often say that my brand The Antiques Diva is Aspirational. At heart I’m a girl from Oklahoma – and the one thing I always say to new clients who want to start sourcing globally: If I can do this, you can do this.
How does your family view you?
A significant other calls me a “whirlwind” and I think that fits! I am always going a million places and doing a million things at once! But also those closest to me more than anyone understands how overwhelmed I can be at times. I often joke, “It ain’t easy being a Diva!” It’s hard work. And they know that at times I think, “I can’t do this.” They also know that after a good night’s sleep I’ll wake up feeling ready to conquer the world.
Share with us your thoughts on the work/life balancing act we hear so much about?
When you have your own company it sometimes feels like you never have a day off work. On the other hand – as I took these questions I was in London on vacation with my niece for 3 weeks – and my laptop!
With my niece Lizzy on top of the Eiffel Tower
How does your time away from the office break down along the “social” vs. “private” lines?
Those lines are blurred. One of the biggest advantages to owning my own company is freedom – on one hand, anyone who knows me says I work all the time. On the other – I rarely feel like I’m working when I’m not behind the desk. Some of my best friends are in this industry.
Technically this moment in Bali with bestie Derrick Ricketts of Dallas Market Center was work – photo credit Alessandro Lupi
What does a well-balanced life look like to you?
I know that I am balanced when I am taking time for self-care. Eating right. Exercising. Having a hobby. Sleeping well. Spending quality time with family and friends.
Last year I was asked to be the brand ambassador for Pandora de Balthazár – a luxury linen company specializing in the European Sleep System. The biggest challenge I face is jet lag – I travel around the globe and am in 2 or 3 countries each month if not 2 continents. I’ve learned that I can’t do my job if I don’t get proper sleep. As my company has grown it’s been one of my biggest priorities to get more and better sleep. Better sleep looks like a well-balanced life.
I love cooking so my spare hours are spent cooking for close friends. I love throwing a dinner party. My dream project is to someday write a cookbook. I studied cooking in Paris taking lessons at both Le Ritz Escoffier and Le Cordon Bleu. One of my fun recent dinner parties was in honor of Bobby Berk. (Now that it’s finally released that Bobby’s been filming Queer Eye for Netflix, I’m delighted to share a few congratulatory pictures!)
Dinner Chez Diva toasting Bobby Berk – So excited to watch Bobby on Season 1 of the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy! – photo credit Susanne Ollmann
Do you crave the quiet of a near empty house to feel nurtured? Does a balance between the two better suit you?
My house has an open door – champagne is always on ice. I have a pantry ready for an impromptu dinner party with all the accoutrements. I love the sound of laughter and glasses clinking. My guests always stay late into the night and I’ve been known to curl up on my couch and go to sleep listening to my friends’ chatter on. The best sound in the world is a full house.
What hobby or personal pursuit of yours is most surprising?
Everyone I know does Pilates or Yoga and I’ve tried both and find them boring… I take boxing lessons and love the intensity!
Completely smitten with Elon Musk
One guest from the past, one from the present and one from the future are invited to join you for the weekend. Who would be your fantasy guests be and why?
First and foremost I would invite Elon Musk to join me. I love innovative thinkers. He’s co-founder of PayPal, CEO of Telsa – the electric automaker – and the thing I’m most excited about – CEO of Space X which designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. And then naturally Leonardo da Vinci would need to come. Elon would need someone on even par with him to spar. Hmm… we need some of the beautiful people. Princess Diana? Do you think she would bring Elton John as her date? He’d get a little drunk and play my piano (Note to self: buy a piano asap). And while it would be fun to do this at my house I kind of fantasize we all go away together and rent a house. Maybe we’d go to Oscar de la Renta’s home in the Dominican Republic or if he said no, maybe Timothy Corrigan would say yes. As a last minute invitation, I’d invite Newell Turner of Hearst to join as I’ve been dying to get him on an Antiques Diva Trip and I’ve had a bit of a design crush on him since he was editor of House Beautiful the first time around. Speaking of design crushes, we’ll have Robert Passal join us. He’s my favorite NYC designer and the perfect arm candy for a weekend away. I’d have Bobby Berk back as my dinner party guest quote because he is one of the most inspirational people I know – funniest – and most down to earth. Naturally, I’d be in charge of cooking but we’d have a caravan of Divas on hand to do all the desserts (I only do stovetop not baking) and to do the cleanup.
On the road with Toma Clark Haines – photo credit Susanne Ollmann
What destination, adventure or experience have you not yet had that you’d like to make a reality?
I have a weird goal. Note I use the word goal not dream, as a goal implies I actually intend to do this someday. I’ve flown around the world. I want to drive around it. I want to hop in a Mercedes Van with plenty of storage space for my purchases and drive from my home up through Russia, across the Bering Strait (surely someone would take pity on me and ferry me over) down to see my family in Oklahoma then keep on driving to South America.
Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams for 2018!
Toma Clark Haines – The Antiques Diva
Lush Decadence Paris Pop-Up Shop
Every girl who loves jewelry needs her Elizabeth Taylor moment. This photo shoot was mine.
Screen icon Elizabeth Taylor was known for her love of fine jewelry, and her knowledge about precious stones. She collected big, exotic stones and the histories that accompanied them. In preparation for the January launch of one of my new ventures, TCH Collection – Lush Decadence Couture Jewelry at Galerie Vauclair in Paris, photographer Susan Ollmann captured me in Galerie Vauclair. The Paris collection features my own jewelry designs as well as pedigreed vintage pieces from Ara. But we’re not just in Paris… we’re in London, Dubai, Bangkok, Amsterdam, High Point and beyond!
When planning the photo shoot I conceptualized a tantalizing environment that illustrates the essence of my life…. naturally I called upon my friends at Fromental to help make that vision a reality. #WatchThisSpace to see pics of how they along with my colleague Chiara Zanella took the design inspiration that was in my mind and transformed Galerie Vauclair into my reality.
At times my life can seem one step beyond reality – this photo shoot is my invitation for you to join me in this world I inhabit – Lush Decadence.
Our Paris pop-up shop at Galerie Vauclair debuts the TCH Collection during Paris Design Week and Paris Couture Fashion Week. Lounging on a red chaise longue surrounded by an exotic and tropical setting I felt like more than a Diva, I felt like Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra!
My jewelry collection is inspired by my travels and love of antiques. I incorporate aspects of nature in my pieces. All of this combined to make Galerie Vauclair the ideal setting to officially launch the TCH Collection in a Paris pop-up shop. Laurence and Denis Vauclair-Rouquette, the founder of Galerie Vauclair, have developed a reputation for being at the epicenter of artistic life in Paris; their exhibitions offer a blend of originality, fantasy and glamour – the very qualities I want the Lush Decadence to bring to the women and men who collect it.
The TCH Collection offers one-of-a-kind, bespoke semi-precious and precious couture jewelry. All pieces in the collection are handmade and personally designed by me and my business partner, May Au of Madame Siam. Our studio accepts personalizations to pieces in the collection and custom designs, which we translate into wearable art.
I admit it: I’m a jewelry addict, and my first collection features rings:
I Believe I Can Fly
“Rings are my favorite accessory. They are the thing I wear for myself. When I wear a ring I see it all day long, typing on my computer, driving my car or enjoying a cocktail.
Just 10 years ago De Beers launched an advertising campaign, ‘Women of the World Raise your Right Hand’. The promotion signified power and independence, and encouraged women to buy jewelry for themselves.
Naming each ring is an important part of my design process – two of my personal favorites in the collection are I Believe I Can Fly and The Diva Knuckle Buster. I want to continue that message of personal empowerment — at a price that is affordable luxury.”
The TCH Collection Paris pop-up show will debut during Paris Design Week in January 2018, with a series of launch events at Galerie Vauclair:
Launch Events
TCH Collection – Lush Decadence
Couture Jewelry by Toma Clark Haines
PARIS • LONDON • AMSTERDAM • VENICE • DUBAI • BANGKOK • NEW YORK
Press Launch:
Lush Decadence: A Conversation with Vogue Contributing Editor Lynn Yaeger
6 – 8pm January 17, 2018
Open House:
Afternoon Tea with Toma Clark Haines & Laurence Vauclair
2 – 4pm, January 18, 2018
Vernissage: Une Américain à Paris
6 – 8 pm January 19, 2018
TCH Collection Pop-Up Shop:
January 17 – March 18, 2018
Where:
Galerie Vauclair
24 rue de Beaune
75007 Paris France
www.galerie-vauclair.fr
Galleries carrying the TCH Collection include:
- London at Scarab Antiques
- Amsterdam at Mariska Meijers
- Dubai at Siimoodi Jewellery
- Bangkok at Paul’s Antiques
- High Point, NC – HPADC by Donnie Grissom Collection
Negotiations are underway for distributors in New York City, Miami/Key West, Dallas and San Francisco. To become a distributor contact me: toma@TCHcollection.com.
To view select pieces and to learn more about the TCH Collection – Lush Decadence Couture Jewelry by Toma Clark Haines read the press release, or follow us:
- www.tchcollection.com
- Instagram @tchcollection
- Facebook @TCHCollection
- Twitter @TCHCollection
á bientôt
Toma – #JewelryAddict
Impress Your Guests this Holiday Season – Set a Festive and Beautiful Table Decoration, Diva Style!
I have a special holiday gift for you! My dear friend (interior designer, style-setter and owner of Nest by Tamara and root cellar design and a US Diva Guide) Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is sharing her Top 7 Holiday Host Tips for a Fabulous Soiree. Tamara is often invited to speak at design industry events to share her expertise on the subjects of interior design, entertaining and the international design markets. Her Nest by Tamara blog was voted #1 design blog in Modenus’ TOP 100 DESIGN BLOGS.
A few weeks back I shared holiday decorating tips over on Trim Queen’s illustrious blog. It seems “top of mind” this time of year because when we do take the leap to invite guests into our home and host a dinner party, we want it to be special and memorable. Unlike typical decorating concerns when incorporating antiques, furnishings, textiles, art in our homes, (we certainly want them to stand the test of time and through various seasons), when it comes to decorating a party table, we are free to channel our inner diva, and take it over the top (in a good way).
My tree sparkled in a Velveteen Rabbit theme at historic home, Bartow Pell Home
The Holidays are a perfect time of year to bring drama and whimsy to our homes and put everyone in a festive mood. Heck, even if we wind up ordering take-out and serving it on pretty platters, guests will be wow’d if we create a beautifully arranged table and decor. Today I am happy to share my Top Seven Holiday Host Tips to help you create a successful and beautiful soiree. I host often, both in my home and for charitable organizations, and over time I have learned some interesting time-saver and stylish tips. My friends have come to call me the “Tabletop Queen” because of my unique knack for entertaining. Now that I have added fabric and wallpaper designer to my resume as co-owner of root cellar designs, I have another vantage point in interior design. Textiles are a key way to bring beauty into your home and table.
You may know by following her on social media, that Toma (the Diva herself) is making the big move this month and relocating from Berlin to Venice, Italy. I can only imagine the Italian-style dinner parties she will plan in her new home. Hopefully we will all sip champagne together someplace exotic alongside Toma on her travels soon — perhaps at her infamous breakfast at the Paris Flea Market this coming January? Until then, I am happy to share my entertaining tips here today on the Antiques Diva blog.
Happy Holidays,
and Happy Nesting
XO Tamara
Tamara’s Top 7 Holiday Host Tips for a Fabulous Soiree
1. Break Out Grandmother’s Fine Crystal and Silver
Yes, I know they are in the back of the linen closet packed away for that special occasion. Well, that special occasion is here! Today, it is perfectly acceptable to mix and match your everyday wares with your finest china and silver. The way we entertain today in a more casual setting, the antique tabletop items we own or inherited when juxtaposed with our modern, everyday items bring a fresh and appeal to your home and table.
This Thanksgiving I mixed in my mother’s Depression Glass with my reproduction Spode Holiday Plates.
2. Go Over The Top With Color
Whether it’s all one colorway in various hues, or a medley of vibrant colors, go bold. I like to take it away from the traditional red and green combination, and introduce pops of color like Tiffany blue, greens, ochre, silver and metals. When we at root cellar design custom design table linens, we keep in mind that there are a plethora of white linens on the market, but very few colorful designs. So, naturally, we go bold and bright and festive. Although our fabric is sold by the yard to the design trade in designer showrooms, this season we started offering our table linens from our fabric collections on a custom basis!
We custom-colored our blue willow pattern in our “holiday orange” color and mixed it with antique blue willow plates in traditional blue and white.Then we added unexpected pattern and design with these pinwheels used as name card holders.
3. Combine Patterns and Textures, Old and New
I use the “something old, something new rule” from weddings to set a holiday dinner party bringing my antique accessories (obelisks, stars and gems) onto my table for a point of interest.
Just like traditional decorating, setting a table is about adding layers and textures– from natural rattan to silver to mercury glass.
4. Add Unexpected Details to Your Table
We custom designed our tortoiseshell pattern in a subtle grey and grown and here one of our clients set their
holiday table with them, then added pine cones, driftwood and other natural materials.
5. Use Placecards– It Feels Special
Here we put them next to the plates in tiny bird’s nests.
For our table at last year’s Lenox Hill Gala we wrapped chocolates for guests.
6. Leave a Little Gift for Your guests on the Table, or Send Them Home with a Goodie Bag
Either a small wrapped gift at the table or a small holiday gift to take home (maybe some homemade Christmas cookies), and it is such a special touch.
7. Offer a Specialty Cocktail
It feels special, and, it frees up your time. Make a big batch of champagne cocktail (just add the champagne at the last minute) or in this case a Lemonade Vodka Sparkling cocktail, and set up your bar cart with all the accoutrements. Now, you’ve created a self-serve holiday bar where guests can refresh their drinks as needed. Note–give your cocktail a name, guests will love it!
Sources:
custom designed paper butterflies
root cellar designs’ fabric and wallpaper
Revamped Design: Food Porn Mirror
Today I’m flying home from a multi-day speaking engagement at the fabulous antiques show, the 2017 Art & Antiques Show London Calling, sponsored by The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. I was honored to be invited to speak – but in all honesty had never heard of this show, just closing its 41st year. Frankly, I was gobsmacked by the quality of the antiques and vendors represented at this show! Whether you’re an antiques dealer seeking new places to display – or an avid antiquer traveling to the best fairs – I highly recommend you put next year’s event on your 2018 calendar! I started my talk by speaking about my design icon, Louis XVI, who totally revamped design for centuries to come – his Grand Tour inspired my own Grand Tour – and my own upcoming Antiques Diva Furniture Collection for Aidan Gray (#WatchThisSpace). I believe that for design professionals the most important tool you can have in your portfolio is your passport.
I’m flying home to Berlin to pack up my belongings with feelings of nostalgia; while I’m excited to begin my new life in Venice, I’ll miss the many friends and colleagues I’ve met and grown to care for during my years in Berlin. We’ve shared a lot… one memory in particular was a good old-fashioned barn raising – #DivaStyle!
(Featured photo credit Susanne Ollman)
Mirrors on the Ceiling – Oh My!
One of the things I will miss most about my Berlin is my apartment. For the last several years, I’ve lived in a 3 level loft that in a word – was über cool! After a Thanksgiving night fire burned my 1st Berlin apartment in Mitte, I relocated to another section of town and a totally different style of apartment: Berlin’s Old Malthouse (Die Alte Mälzerei), an urban renewal project that took the Schultheiß-Brauerei (Schultheiss Brewery) and revamped this industrial historic monument into sensational living spaces – I had over 2000 square feet on 3 levels with a fabulous terrace! The dining room happened to be the inside of the oven where the malt was brewed – a round room, with an igloo-shaped exterior and no windows, but openings on both sides that gave the room a cave-like feel. Dinner by candlelight whatever the time of day!
Because of my business as The Antiques Diva, many of my friends are also in the design or lifestyle industries – stylists, photographers, caterers, antique dealers, artists, designers and the like. When I entertain at home, presentation counts: not just to me, but to my guests. The people I entertain seriously like #FoodPorn. Whether we’re at a resto or a private home, with every course out come the iPhones as everyone tries to get the perfect shot to post on Instagram. (I recall one afternoon at Tamara Matthews Stephenson’s with designers standing on chairs in her Hampton’s kitchen trying to get the perfect shot before she served the meal!)
One evening as we chatted late into the night in my dining room with my good friends Christian Lemke and Justina Walczak of Revamp Home Staging and Design in Berlin, we had a scathingly brilliant idea:
A mirror fixed to the brick ceiling of my dining room would provide fabulous light reflections and some serious #FoodPorn photos!
The challenge was on! Now to find a mirror to fit the narrow round spot on the ceiling and attach it to the ceiling – without spending a lot of money! With the interior design skills of Christian and Justyna, that was a breeze as they had a mirror cut to size.
My brewery chimney dining room, pre-mirror Photo credit Susanne Ollman
Naturally, I called on my Oklahoma roots and put together an old-fashion barn-raising, er… mirror raising!
We had a round mirror cut to fit the chimney ceiling
Christian – the engineer-minded in the group – built a frame to attach to the ceiling and hold the mirror.
A wooden frame was attached to the ceiling, and the mirror was attached to the frame
Once we got the mirror up there and correctly positioned…
Mirror attached to the dining room ceiling
We had to devise a way to KEEP it up there 24 hours – long enough for the adhesive to set.
Tightly stacked boxes to the rescue!
As the adhesive dried, I fed the team dinner – served outside on the terrace because we were afraid to eat under the newly installed mirror! Fortunately, it was a beautiful evening for dining al fresco, as my terrace doesn’t have a ceiling!
Team #FoodPorn!
Dinner served family style, because my friends have become my family.
I’ll cherish these memories of friends and good times in Berlin
I love the name of Christian and Justyna’s business – ReVamp Design. Isn’t that really what we do with our lives during pivotal moments – such as I’m undergoing at the moment with my upcoming move to Italy? I’ll be bringing my antiques to Venice – but also… there will be a guest bedroom for dear friends such as Christian and Justyna to come visit! Cherished antiques and friends are vital to a happy home, and a happy life.
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Toma – The Antiques Diva
