Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/304026
L ast summer, my daughter and I traveled to Europe to visit my niece, who was spending the summer in Italy. When planning a trip, the first website I always consult is Mr. and Mrs. Smith (mrandmrssmith.com). I found a wonderful hotel in the Italian countryside, Hotel Borgo della Marmotta — which, as Mr. and Mrs. Smith says, is a "17th- century heartthrob of a hamlet with spectacular views of the Spoleto valley in Umbria and 12,000 olives trees providing a shady retreat from the surrounding sun-drenched countryside. Ravishingly romantic rooms seal the deal with white interiors that highlight the exposed beams and ancient stone walls." Unbeknownst to us, our trip coincided with the Spoleto Festival in nearby Spoleto, which is an annual summer arts festival with a large selection of concerts, opera, dance, drama and visual arts. My niece loves dance, so we decided to attend a performance of the Mark Morris Dance Group, a contemporary dance group based in Brooklyn. The performance was in the most beautiful Roman theater dating back to the first century BC. It was a beautiful Italian summer evening as we arrived at the theater. I was struck by the creative juxtaposition of an American contemporary dance in this ancient setting. It reminds me of what we do so well at Found: creating a very distinctive and fresh design point of view for the home inspired by the creative balance of old and new. The possibilities are both endless and timeless. O ver the holidays, I visited Cuixmala, a private estate in Careyes, Mexico. They have a sister resort called Hacienda de San Antonio a few hours away in the hills, but I stayed at Cuixmala in one of two beachfront villas. It's a very exclusive private property that was turned into a resort by the original family who developed the 25,000-acre property. The trip and my time there inspired me tremendously and reminded me why I became a designer in the first place. I've always felt that the home, whether your main residence or vacation home, should reflect a fantasy for living. Cuixmala delivers that a hundredfold. Our large and sprawling villa was nestled in the tall dunes and cascaded down to the pool and private mile-long beach. The villa's 360-degree open-air windows and doors had fantastic views of the surrounding farmland and ocean. Everywhere you turned was a new exciting spectacle. The interior walls, floors and ceiling are pure white and highlight the local carved fruitwood furniture, textiles and painted tiles. There is no formal design, just casually intended elegance with carefully curated pops of color that nod to the sea and sunset. I often design homes in the Florida Keys and am always looking for inspiration. I found that and more at Cuixmala. MAY | PAGE 40 | 2014 Inspiring DESTINATIONS IT MIGHT BE AN EXHIBITION, A MUSEUM, A HOTEL, THE COLOR OF THE SAND, A SOUK OR AN ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT INSPIRES EVERY FIBER OF YOUR BEING. WE ASKED SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE PEOPLE WE KNOW JUST WHAT REVS THEM UP AND GETS THEM READY TO DESIGN, PAINT, CREATE. WHEREVER IT IS, WE WANT TO GO THERE. Produced by Jenny Antill LYNN GOODE Owner, Lynn Goode Vintage Furniture + Decorative Arts RUTH DAVIS Owner, Found BLAIR GORDON Designer, Blair Gordon Design R ecently my husband and I spent a long weekend in Phoenix, where we visited Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural compound. I learned that his favorite color was Cherokee Red, a shade I'd always referred to as Cadmium red (it's also a favorite of mine). The Taliesin pattern he used in his furniture was derived from his love of the ancient Native American rock drawings found on the property, as well as his love of Japan, although I was surprised to see the broken ceramics from China used within his architecture. We have a Taliesin dining table and buffet at my shop, and after my visit, I appreciated the intricate details of the table much more. I was also inspired by the mid- century architecture in Phoenix, ranging from the International Style, Brutalist and Googie, and how well-preserved the buildings are. The City of Phoenix preservation office featured in the book, Mid Century Marvels: Commercial Architecture of Phoenix, 1945-1975 was a marvel — just brilliant design. We toured the Arizona Biltmore hotel in Phoenix, designed by Albert Chase McArthur, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright (Wright was brought in to consult on the design). I was moved by the brass-and-wood fixtures at the hotel, since brass and gold have been making a comeback in interiors. I've also been spending time in Asheville, North Carolina, and the great Smoky Mountain region, and I'm fascinated by the history of Black Mountain College (which is no longer in existence). Some of the professors' and students' work — particularly Ruth Asawa, Anni Albers, Josef Albers and Robert Rauschenberg — has been inspirational. The black and white and grays of Asawa's work and also the "Picasso Black and White" exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (curated by long-time friend Alison de Lima Greene) was pivotal with our fabric selections at my store. Our tufted couch and pillows were inspired by that show. Finally, my most recent getaway was to Sea Island, Georgia, where we stayed at the legendary Cloister Hotel, which has a Spanish/ Moorish feel. JENNY ANTILL JENNY ANTILL JENNY ANTILL Lynn Goode Ruth Moore Davis Blair Gordon Hotel Borgo della Marmotta, Umbria Hotel Borgo della Marmotta, Umbria Teatro Romano, dating back to the first century BC, Spoleto Cuixmala Cuixmala Black Mountain College geodesic dome, Buckminster Fuller's project with the help of college students, circa 1950 Arizona desert Arizona Biltmore hotel in Phoenix, designed by Albert Chase McArthur Pierre Cardin credenza at Lynn Goode Vintage The Cloister at Sea Island Cuixmala