The AD Aesthete

Our newest book, AD at 100, celebrates the most incredible homes of the past century, showcasing the work of top designers and offering rare looks inside the private worlds of artists, celebrities, and other fascinating personalities. Joining me in the studio to discuss the three-year process from ideation to publication is Amy Astley, editor in chief of AD; Alison Levasseur, AD's interiors and garden director; and Michael Shome, AD's visual director.

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Heritage businesses often grow out of enviable, deep roots, yet today many legacy companies are run by corporate types wanting to trade on a brand name, not recognizing the original family creativity. Today I'm joined in the studio by three young powerhouses—Eliza Crater of Sister Parish Design, Valentin Goux of Rinck, and Freddy Victoria of Victoria & Sons—who discuss how they are working to respect their origins while innovating to remain relevant. 

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Swedish-born British designer Beata Heuman, an undisputed star of her profession, is an AD100 honoree who was named "Designer of the Year" in 2018 by Britain's House & Garden. Thoughtful and reflective, she chatted with me about unexpected details (that sometimes tip into the strange), being thrown into the deep end, and the secret to her appeal—part joy, part fearlessness, all talent. Listen in. 

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Interior designer, writer, historian, and scholar Thomas Jayne may be devoted to traditional design, but as his rooms and books clearly show, the results are decided unstuffy. Of many decorators who hold high the torch of Anglo-American style, he prefers to bring its classicism into modern times, injecting it with vibrant colors, unexpected juxtapositions, and an inventive sense of frolic. Tradition not only can be taught new tricks, it demands them! I hope you enjoy our chat.

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British illustrator and designer Luke Edward Hall, a true leading light with thousands of fans and followers, may channel a glamorous, golden era—citing legends such as photographer Cecil Beaton and poet Jean Cocteau—yet beyond the gloss lies a hardworking talent whose tongue-in-cheek, creative whimsy has justifiably propelled him on his meteoric rise. Join us as we chat about his fascinations, inspirations, and most ambitious projects yet.

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Interiors have long been enriched with handmade tassels, fringe, lace, braid, and other trims, all of which contributed to a significant percent of many a decorating budget. But with the rise of modernism in the 1920s, the art of handmade trim fell out of fashion. Could a revival be underway now? If textile historian and consultant Annabel Westman, who is executive director of the Attingham Trust and author of Fringe, Frog and Tassel: The Art of the Trimmings-Maker, has anything to say about it, the answer is yes.

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America's first president was a renowned military tactician, a Revolutionary War hero, and Father of the Country. Yet George Washington was also a man of surprisingly style, and the home he and wife Martha Washington created, Mount Vernon, astounded visitors and has always occupied a prominent place in the American cultural landscape. In recent years, however, Mount Vernon has dramatically evolved as researchers discover how the house and its rooms were ablaze with color and pattern, and the vibrant palette is being reinstated—but not without controversy. Joining me today to talk about the changing face of Mount Vernon is Curator of Fine and Decorative Arts Adam Erby.

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Architecture and landscape design both enhance and anchor each other, never moreso than when the creative talents behind them collaborate as well as my guests AD100 architect Gil Schafer and landscape designer Deborah Nevins, who have several projects to prove it. Bonus: Listen in as I get persuaded to recite a Wallace Stevens poem.

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Back in the late nineteenth century, the premier international arts and antiques advisories were the Duveen brothers, counselors to the very wealthy one percent on what to include in their private collections. As those artworks were donated to public museums and galleries, it's become clear how influential Duveen Brothers was in shaping American tastes today. Join me with Charlotte Vignon, a curator of fine arts for the Frick Collection, and art and design scholar R. Louis Bofferding, to discuss.

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"No matter where you go, there's always something to see," the acclaimed American decorator Mark Hampton once told me—a guiding principle for so many in the design industry. AD100 honorees Alexa Hampton and Steven Gambrel tend to travel the world with an eye for the unexpected, always returning home with snapshots that serve as a springboard for creativity. Join us as they sift through the details of their latest journeys.

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