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va-k-shun
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Dark and Inky
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Summer Vacation
… mine has officially started.
I'm spending the week in my hometown of Minneapolis with family and friends.
There is no place I would rather be this time of year than the land of ten thousand lakes.
It's the perfect destination for the three essentials of a summer vacation – sun, fun and
relaxation. I lounge at my parents', soak in the sun, catch up with the girls and breathe.
Not much to it really, but it's always nice to have a plan – if a somewhat loose one – in place.
Below are some of the activities I've scheduled for my week in the beautiful "mini apple".
Lake Minnetonka
This vast and intricate chain of bays is a summer must for tourists and
natives alike. You can tie up at Big Island, stop for drinks at Lord Fletcher's
or simply cruise along while enjoying 100+ miles of beautiful shoreline.
A typical summer day at Lord Fletcher's.
Chez Huntley is on the north shore of Lake Minnetonka in Crystal Bay.
Pool Time
My sun-worshipping days are long gone. I haven't spent committed time
in the sun in nearly twenty years. But the rents have a pool with a view
of the lake. So really, I'm going to pass up a day of lounging poolside with
my ipod, a tall drink and a couple of fashion mags? Puhleeez!
I picked up two delicious magazines before my flight. Check out the August issues of
Elle and Vogue featuring Drew Barrymore and Gwyneth Paltrow respectively.
Great features and fall fashion previews!
Walker Art Center
I haven't been in years, so I plan to spend a day at this world-class museum and
adjacent sculpture garden with dinner after at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant 20*21.
Claes Oldenburg’s famous “Spoonbridge and Cherry” sculpture at the Walker.
The view from 20*21 includes Loring Park and the Basilica.
Neighborhood Driving Tour
Before I was an adult and a professional interior designer, I was a design voyeur.
As a teenager, I loved driving through Minneapolis and its western suburbs soaking
in the architecture and atmosphere of the neighborhoods. I haven't done that in years
and am looking forward to visiting some of my favorites haunts like Edina, Kenwood
and Linwood Hills. I see a blog post developing out of this.
Classics in Kenwood (above) and adjacent to Lake Harriet (below).
Lake Calhoun & Lake Harriet
During my high school years many a day, night and weekend were spent at these two
lakes. Smaller in size and in the heart of Minneapolis, they're great for all kinds of activities:
running, biking, canoeing, windsurfing. Plus, the Lake Harriet Bandshell features concerts
all summer long, so you can bring a date or the whole family for a picnic under the stars.
Windsurfers on Lake Calhoun.
Moored sailboats and the bandshell at Lake Harriet.
Weisman Art Museum
Designed by Frank Gehry and erected in 1993, this iconic steel structure on
the University of Minnesota campus is a precursor to the famous Guggenheim in
Bilbao, Spain. The only Gehry-designed museum in the United States, it is
currently undergoing a major expansion scheduled for completion in 2011.
Girls' Night
My Midwest "besties" and I don't get quality time together but once a year.
So when we do, we make it count. There's nothing better than hanging out,
sipping cocktails and laughing our a—s off for hours on end.
Five of “the nine” at our 20th reunion last summer at the Minneapolis W Hotel.
Hoping you all get the chance to get away, recharge and reconnect with the ones you love!
Tricia xo
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District Design
New York, LA, Paris – Sure, everyone knows these cities are the “it” destinations for design
and fashion. But there are fabulous finds in any city if you’re a chic and savvy girl (or guy) who knows
how and where to look. “DISTRICT DESIGN” is a recurring feature from Luxe & Lucid that highlights
great shopping in the US and beyond sourced by my most stylish friends and colleagues in-the-know.
District Design vol. 2
BARCELONA & MADRID
On the heels of its World Cup win over The Netherlands this past weekend, who better to
feature in District Design than Spain? You couldn't help falling in love with this country upon
viewing the spirit and excitement of its players and fans throughout the finals. Sarah, my oldest
friend from childhood – we started our education together in preschool – has had a lifelong love affair
with Europa Latina. She has lived there since college and married a Spaniard. She is probably more
Spanish than American at this point, but as someone who was raised in the U.S., she never loses her
enthusiasm for her adopted home. In Luxe & Lucid's second installment of District Design, Sarah
will share her favorite sources for fashion and home as a stylish ex-pat in the know. Viva España!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FURNISHINGS RESOURCE?
Two great, high-end resources for the home are ArteEspaña and Becara.
Both have retail locations in Madrid and Barcelona.
Table from ArteEspana and accessories from Becara.
WHAT WAS YOUR LAST STELLAR FIND?
Gold leaf mirrors for our dining room and a gold-flecked frame that instantly jazzed up a lackluster print.
Artwork at Hotel Pulitzer in Barcelona c/o La Dolce Vita.
IS THERE A PREFERRED LINEN SHOP IN MADRID?
Yes! The best buy for your money is at Sandra Marquez. It’s a Portuguese chain and
Portuguese textiles are lovely. You can find quality linens – for bath, bed, tabletop – at
great prices. Her sheets have lovely detailing like scalloped edges and hand-embroidery.
They’re soft, don’t need much ironing and last. What more can you ask for?!
HOW DO YOU WORK YOUR FASHION LOOK INTO YOUR HOME?
I like gold accessories and my living room has quite a few little gold accents.
Interior by Estefanía Carrero featured in Spanish AD Nov ’09.
Check out this mag. Every issue blows my mind!
WHAT FASHION DESTINATION CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
That would have to be Zara. They are completely in touch with the pulse of current fashion
and churn out new looks every two weeks, so their store is new every time you walk in. Zara is
known for taking hot looks off the street/runway and getting them into stores in record time. They
mix up their styles and feature limited edition dresses and outfits that are really gorgeous. You can
find your standard work uniform or weekend outfits in a snap. Everything is well-priced, and while it’s
only good for a season or two, it’s great to get up-to-date pieces without breaking the bank. Plus, it’s
one-stop shopping for women (including shoes), men and kids. A great resource for moms on-the-go.
Styles from the Zara Lookbook.
WHAT’S THE BEST KEPT SHOPPING SECRET IN SPAIN?
Boutiques like Hazel for shoes and Bimba & Lola for ready-to-wear clothes and accessories.
Perhaps best of all? Zara’s new upscale shop called Uterque. Check it out – it’s gorgeous!
Shoes from Hazel.
Spirited and coloful clothes and accessories from Bimba & Lola.
Handbags from Uterqüe.
* LUXE & LUCID PICKS FOR BARCELONA & MADRID *
Sarah and I are part of a group of longtime girlfriends in Minnesota (a.k.a. “the nine”).
Our friendships span 30+ years and we get together annually so that we stay on top of the
many changes we all go through and to keep our relationships au courant. We pick a new
spot each year, and with our fortieth birthdays looming on the horizon (yikes!), we’ve decided
to do it up with a trip to Spain. Sarah will, of course, provide us with many to-do’s and must-
sees for our little adventure. But in true Tricia-style, I’ve started compiling a list of Luxe &
Lucid worthy pit-stops. See some of my recent finds below. And feel free to send me your
own recommendations. I would love to hear from you!
HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
– The Hotel Pulitzer in Barcelona –
Designed by the incredibly talented Lázaro Rosa-Violán.
Patrons have included Joan Miró, Salman Rushdie and François Mitterand … must be good!
– Bar Marsella –
Some of my artistic heroes – Dalí, Hemingway, Gaudí and Picasso – used to frequent this
Barcelona bar. And they serve absinthe. A sexy, mysterious spirit I’ve been enjoying lately.
– The Hotel Ritz Madrid –
Dining on the Terrace with views across the garden of the Prado Museum.
MUSEUMS
- Museo del Prado –
Glorious garden, magnificent architecture and a stellar collection of works.
– The Museu Picasso, Barcelona –
The Wait (Margot), 1901.
- Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid –
Hombre con Pipa, 1925
Joan Miró
Guernica, 1937
Pablo Picasso's masterpiece
More to come as I troll blogs and poll my friends for the best resources España.
… and check out District Design vol. 1 from November 09.
Tricia xo
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Designer DNA
At Huntley & Co. when a new project begins, the first thing I do is develop a concept.
I pour over books, magazines, websites and my own archives to find inspiring and
expressive images. Ones that will represent the client’s sense of style and capture the
spirit of the proposed interior. Sometimes I file them in the client's binder. Often I
make an actual storyboard, so everyone (including me) can refer to the "design snapshot"
again and again for guidance and clarity during an often lengthy process. It's a rewarding
exercise that I eagerly tackle. So what's the problem? Ugh – trying to do it for myself!
I'm planning some future redecoration at chez Huntley (hopefully a new chez Huntley)
and I've been "scheming" for months. Designers are like doctors, we're our own worst
patients – we struggle to apply our professional objectivity and discipline to our personal
lives. So what's a frustrated decorator to do? Pretend I'm a client! I've pulled together a
collection of photos that speak to me for style, mood, color and content. So which story-
board represents the real me? Maybe they’re all me. Whew, I better find a bigger house!
Tricia xo
THE MUSINGS OF DESIGNER TRICIA HUNTLEY
