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Welcome

“As a resident of the world of design since birth, I’d like to take some time to celebrate some of the people and things in that world that I admire. I hope you come along for the ride. And, as my name has really taken a beating these last couple of years, -thank you Mr. Bezos, - feel free to think of me here by my nickname: Lex. And, please also enjoy this completely un-recognizable and years old headshot.” - Alexa Hampton

Kevin Isbell

Kevin Isbell

Lindsay Calhoun
photo by Leslie Unruh

photo by Leslie Unruh

If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Although we already have a home on Italy’s Lago Di Garda, I would love a Tuscan farm house in Pietrasanta.

What are three words to describe your style?
1. Exuberant
2. Liveable
3. Detailed

Tell us about your childhood bedroom? The love child between a suburban JoAnn Fabric shop and an 80’s music video from Devo. It was a color blocked DIY fantasy complete with polka-dot fabric swags and an Adam Ant poster, or 17.

What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? I bought a pair of Robsjohn Gibbing’s Klismos chairs for my first ‘adult’ apartment in New York. They’ve outlasted the apartment, my youth, and a pandemic, but not a housekeeper who destroyed one of the pair.

In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Renzo Mongiardino. He was the master of the sleight of hand decoration.

No room is complete without a place to set your drink.

People think of me as extroverted, but I am really somewhat shy.

Things you omit from:

  • A flower arrangement: Baby’s Breath

  • An hors d’oeuvre platter: Sundried Tomato

  • A bar cabinet: Children

A song for:

  • Dinner at home: Jazz

  • Working at your desk: Bossa Nova

  • Going for a run: A what?!?

Biggest Vice? Sugar

If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? Vintage drip glaze pottery, random organizational items from The Container Store, a pizza, and a bottle of Brunello. In that order.

Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Only in the sense that they are comfortable. My interiors tend to be a bit more studied.

Who is your star crush? Sarah Paulson

What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? Although it would never come out of me, I do love a successful monochromatic room. They’re few and far between unfortunately.

If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be?
The Givenchy Style

For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? For bringing authenticity and comfort to peoples lives.

photo by Read McKendree

photo by Read McKendree

A Few Favorites:

  • Movie: I am Love, for The Villa Necchi of course

  • Book: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

  • Scent: Fresh baked bread

  • The fabric you always come back to: Printed linens by artisans like Lake August, Alex Conroy, or Radish Moon.

  • Dream project: My dream Tuscan farm house from a few answers ago.

  • Meal: Italian, made by my husband.

  • Drink: Kettle One and Tonic, lots of lime

  • Hotel: San Montano Resort on the island of Ischia

  • Travel Destination: Italy, of course.

  • Artist: Anselm Kiefer

  • Thing to collect obsessively: West German Pottery

  • Era in the history of design: All of them, but the 60’s and 70’s have a soft spot in my psyche

  • Museum: The Metropolitan

  • Paint Color that always looks great: Benjamin Moore’s Constellation Blue

  • Favorite person to follow on Instagram: Gracie Studio

  • Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? None currently

Wendy Goodman

Wendy Goodman
Elizabeth Fiore

Elizabeth Fiore

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