Chic NYC Dogs

As mum and I were walking down the street in Soho this afternoon we came across this man and his very cute dogs.  He allowed me to take a photo.  I had to share it with you!!

xx

Anna

Chance Encounters

My days in NYC have been very busy and very productive.  I have enjoyed uncovering some wonderful treasures and meeting some lovely people along the way. 

Earlier today I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  As I walked out the front door of The Crosby Street Hotel where we are staying, who should be standing right in front of me?  I could hardly believe my eyes...it was Kit Kemp who is the owner and designer of The Crosby Street Hotel.

My knees went a little shaky and butterflies started to fly ferociously around inside my stomach however, despite my nervous state I approached her and said hello.  I told her I would never usually do something like this. However, I know how much I would have re regretted it if I didn't pluck up the courage to say hello.  She was so kind and so lovely.  We spent a few minutes chatting about various things and I must say, having admired her for such a long time, including posting about her work, her home and her hotels here on the blog over the years, it was one of the most wonderful and exciting encounters of my life!!

Another wonderful experience I had today was being invited to Betsy Morgan's beautiful house for afternoon tea.  Betsy, who is an Interior Designer here in NYC and her husband own a DIVINE 5 storey townhouse in Chelsea.  We enjoyed a tour of her home and in doing so met her 2 beautiful daughters and chatted about all things New York and Design. 

Betsy allowed me to take a few photos of her home which I am sharing here today. You may think you have seen Betsy's home before.  Well you are probably right as it has been used for some pretty well-known photo shoots including the photos taken by Mario Testino of Sarah Jessica Parker for Vogue.  That's right, she's had Mario Testino and SJP in her home all at once.  AMAZING!

All in all it was such a wonderful and inspiring day.  Thank you Betsy for inviting us to your home for afternoon tea and thank you Kit Kemp for stopping to say hello to me.  I was completely and utterly starstruck!!

xx
Anna

Brown Packages

The bounty of goods we purchased in New York has started to arrive.  Today we received our first deliveries.  One of the things we opened was the wonderful HUGE vintage one-off Chanel poster we purchased along with some colourful fabrics.  I was suprised to see these things arriving so quickly.  I am looking forward to the next delivery of special things we went to the other side of the earth to find for our clients and customers.

Overpacked

I seem to have a rather persistent problem when it comes to packing a suitcase and that is I completely overpack.  Every single time I just can't help myself and the worst thing of all is that my carry-on luggage could be compared to everything 20 people would need for a 2 week holiday.  It is just ridiculous. 

However, after hauling my usual 10 tonnes of so-called 'I can't live without' luggage on a 20 hour flight from Brisbane to New York a few days I ago it was quite humorous to read an article by Amanda Fortini in the New York Times this morning in which she proclaims her obsession with the overpack too. 

I was comforted by the fact that she too has packing anxiety and as her friend kindly puts it - 'It's like you're traveling by ocean liner.  Will you be accompanied by a porter?'  I WISH I could be accompanied by a porter.  Usually my husband is around and has in the past helped me lug large seashells in my carry-on luggage from Hawaii and cushion covers, mirrors and a painting from LA but this time it is just me and my carry-on and let me tell you it is exhausting running for a connecting flight with 3 heavy bags.  I have vowed and declared that on our return flight next week I will only be bringing 1 bag into the cabin with me and the rest will be checked in.  It will be interesting to see how I go.

It is snowing here in New York which is quite amazing as this time last week I was swimming in our pool with Harry and Max in 30 + degrees.