Manhattan: and a tale of Scout Designs

When it comes to design and interiors, I always value interest over beauty.  I am drawn to artifacts {with their hidden histories} and to curiosities {with their strange tales}.  I like unexpected juxtapositions and intrigue.  And I like details. I am happy when people pick up things and say, What is that?  Because really, life is too short to keep seeing the same old thing. 

I decorate Peacock Pavilions myself.  But if I were to hire a firm to do that, the place that comes to mind is Scout Designs, run by Nicki Clendening and Callie Jenschke. These two have a fantastic and very personal design aesthetic.  And it's no surprise {to me} that they're drawn to ethnic details and items from farflung shores.   I also confess to having asked them if they would, Please be my best friends. {Ahem, I'm still waiting in line with several others on that request.}  Because honestly, they're just that cool.

Whenever I'm in New York, we spend some time together.  Here is Nicki in her beautiful appartment in Harlem.

And Callie 

And more importantly, here is some of their work.

 Photo credit: Liz Banfield

Photo credit: Liz Banfield

Learn more about Scout Designs and Callie and Nickie

Scout Designs
info@scoutdesignsnyc.com
And take a peek at their blog, Scouting and their shop, Mercantile.

*********

PS So nice to see this lovely blog post on Peacock Pavilions. 

Marrakech: and a tale of dinner at the Royal Mansour

Yes, it was at the Royal Mansour in {of course} Marrakech.

A gate fit for, well, a king.  

The Moroccan restaurant seemed straight from an enchanting old film. All marble floors, mosaic tiled walls, and filigree lanterns...

{The bottles with their amber elixirs gleamed.}

In pristine Moroccan jellabas and ivory silken caftans, they played their part to, well, perfection.

With the lanterns casting mesmerizing patterns on the walls, he took our order.

and {with white gloves} we were served...

on an inlaid table with cut crystal, porcelain pedestals and golden rims.....

only the most beautiful fish....

Yes, the Moroccan restaurant at the Royal Mansour in Marrakech.  Supervised by the celebrated three-Michelin-star chef, Yannick Alléno

Be forewarned....only for those with the sparkliest jewels, the highest heels, and the fattest wallets.  

www.royalmansour.com
info@royalmansour.ma
T: + 212 5 29 80 80 80. F: + 212 5 29 80 80 91 

Marrakesh: and a tale of appearing on the Travel Channel's Street Eats show

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a foodie.  My husband is happy with a bowl of cereal (for dinner!) but that would never do for me.  However, clearly, good food doesn't necessarily mean the fancy variety, and I've always been a lover of street food.  So I was happy to be asked to be on the Travel Channel's Street Eats episode in Morocco.  

Here's a little clip taken on the fly. {That's my daughter and former Peacock Pavilions' colleague Stephanie Alman with me.} 

Would love ot hear if you think eating street food in a foreign country is a No-No! Or do you dig in with abandon?

PS New and gorgeous stock of Moroccan wedding blankets known as handiras in Red Thread Souk.  Take a peek if you have a minute!

Marrakech: and a tale of a birthday

It was a birthday.  So I wore an ivory satin coat and a glamorous ring because birthdays are occasions to do that sort of thing.

We piled into the car and arrived at a cottage in downtown Marrakech.  Everything was aglow.

I even spied my book in the candle light on the coffee table.

There was drinking at this birthday.

And plenty of it.

And there was special musical accompaniment by local talent.

The music was required, you see, because there was dancing.  The birthday boy loved to dance.

And so did everyone else.  

And although his wardrobe had remained identical, many birthdays had past since this picture was taken of the birthday boy. {His hair was longer, there were a few more wrinkles, the baby now went to art school in France} ...

Nonetheless, the years had undoubtedly served to remind him, that in the end all that really mattered was this.... 

Amour cushion by Zid Zid Kids.

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