Meanwhile, back in London…
The town was abuzz not only with the 60 year Coronation anniversary, but also the Bowie exhibition at the Victoria & Albert museum.
Needless to say, being the dyed in the wool Bowie Fangirl I am, there was no way we were going to miss the show!
A beautiful summer day on the steps of the V & A, London
The show was good, slick and definitely worth seeing
In my humble opinion however , it could have been bigger. Granted there was and continues to be SO much great material to document over Bowie’s decades long career, but it’s not like the V & A doesn’t have the room…and I’m sure the budget must have been formidable.
Then again, perhaps it’s fitting to leave the show feeling the man still remains a bit of an enigma (aren’t you glad I didn’t say chameleon 
)
We were also just in time for the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition Preview party
Where the fashion and art world’s ongoing love affair with fluorescents was to be clocked everywhere.
People, the “Red Carpet” was green!
Even the canapés were served on glowing fluorescent green trays. (fyi-I didn’t eat all those)
Though I felt slightly underdressed (it’s a long story) at least my belt matched the theme of the evening.
Cute young girls in Louis Vuitton SS13 frocks
and stripes were certainly a popular fasion statement.
A triptych of pics from the party
Prawns on fluoro ice.
and a glowing green bar
Leaving the party to go to “Le Caprice” off Piccadilly for a late dinner with old friends
A restaurant we frequented-yikes, often and more years ago than I really care to divulge, and it’s still as busy as ever.
Though the signage remains the same, the interior has enjoyed a subtle face-lift.
Hmmm…oh forget it. I can go back to the same places, but I’ll never get the old face back, and that’s OK.
No, really, it’s fine. Pass the whine. I mean the wine.
BTW, If you were going to buy a Bentley, would you pick purple?!
More fun to be had window shopping in Mayfair
The new Assouline book shop next to Claridge’s Hotel.
and Knightsbridge at Harvey Nichols
Where I bought this Christopher Kane silk jacket that is amortizing nicely.
More Harvey Nic’s
and simply strolling in the streets of my old ‘hood sharing my old memories with my husband.
And lest one precious moment of London time was wasted, a girlfriend and I also took in the arts & antiques fair at Olympia.
Where I became quite fascinated with this 3D piece. Doesn’t it look like an aerial view of a crowd of people milling about?
Closer inspection reveals it’s simply tiny dollops of layers of paint. Very clever.
Sadly, I’m unable to find my program from the show at the moment so I cannot credit the artist.
My friend was taken with this cheeky Bazooka bubblegum snapping Renaissance-looking maiden, carved in alabaster no less, by the artist Gerard Mas.
The subtly veined and translucent nature of the alabaster made her appear unsettling life-like. It also made me want to wear more sunscreen.
~
Our last evening found us at the ridonkulously chic “5 Hertford St.” in Mayfair, just off Curzon St.
The good news is it’s owned and very personally presided over by Robin Birley, son of the infamous Mark Birley who ran “Annabel’s” in Mayfair for forever and a day
The family are true restaurant and private nightclub royalty-oh the stories they could tell! and wow, Birley’s newest establishment does not disappoint.
Robin and Lucy Birley
The decor was conceived by 80′s & 90′s renowned fashion designer Rifat Ozbek, though I can’t imagine that Robin Birley and his wife (Bryan Ferry’s ex) didn’t also have a strong hand in final ambiance of the place.
The bar area in “Loulou’s” downstairs
Downstairs is like Safari-meets-The Water Babies. Sorry if that’s a difficult visual to summon up, but that’s how it felt, so overcome was I with the general effect. Upstairs, you just want to live in every single room, sit by the multiple fire places, smoking cigars whilst reading Maugham and discussing the merits of whippets above all other canines with Mr. Birley himself. (Who I just happened to see carrying his one grey whippet down the stairs in his arms, with the other close to heel. It was The Perfect English Moment)
The Bad News is, and this is pretty bloody bad-it’s private.
One must know Some One in order to get One’s self through the very discreet little door of “5 Hertford St”
So, if your travels include a trip to London on the horizon, One best get on the horn and start calling friends, friends of friends, bosses of friends, and listen, if things get desperate, even rebuilding a broken friendship bridge or two if necessary.
This is one of the chicest, coolest places I’ve been to.
And I really don’t think it’s just because I love London so much.
PS. Don’t flipping tell anyone I snapped the photo of the dining room with the roses above-I imagine they don’t take kindly to people clicking away with their iPhones.
PPS. Can’t tell a porkie-pie, I also snapped the flowers in the Ladie’s room.
Who could resist these and who does it hurt, pray tell??
OK, and really, really, lastly…cause it’s like 2am in the morning here,
We’re on High Alert Royal Baby Watch now are we not?!
I shot this little “Instagram”vignette in our guest room in honour of the Big Event.
I love that CNN announced today that ‘Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge are eagerly awaiting the birth of either a boy or a girl!”
Genius.
Righty ho, time for me to go to bed and dream of England!
What are you doing in your part of the world right now?!
xxSP.
*all photos of “5 Hertford St.” except my first Instagram pic and the Ladie’s room flowers are via “Vanity Fair” magazine.
It’s now even later than 2am so excuse any typos-I might as well be running a nightclub at this hour.
Coat check tag,please. And No, I don’t have any change.
~
via Pinterest
and Ines de la Fressange’s home in Provence
image via Tumblr
Lovely to make up the bed with crisp, cool rouge stripes in the summer.
French Elle Magazine
We were excited to be having very dear old friends over for dinner and inspired by the spate of beautiful late May weather in Santa Barbara (before ”June Gloom” arrived, right on schedule as I’ve been informed, June 1st) I thought it would be fun to serve up a big old curry with all the fixings.
My Instagram shot of the cookbooks we used:
Different flavours of salts on the table are always a nice touch.
I actually have a “Salt” post in the hopper as we speak. Keep an eye out for it. I know. Exciting, right?!
As usual, I like to really mix it up, so here we have a huge vintage Suzani used as the tablecloth (that’s how much I love/trust these friends 
Christofle silver vase (a present for our 25th wedding anniversary last month)
but with my newly invigorated passion for bright pink coinciding with getting bolder in my dotage I said to myself ;
Until this week.
Tons of inspiration in the beautiful book “Rajasthan”
Striped “dhurrie” from Pottery barn, ottoman “George Smith”, vintage leather poof
Yellow throw pillow “Pottery Barn”, straw hat “Maison K” Montecito
A couple of fav. mags always beckon one into a room
Now I can’t wait to get up in the morning and have my tea in the conservatory-it’s positively singing with sunlight
and the perfect place for cocktails at Day’s end (or Day’s middle-towards-end..ish)
,
Love the art propped against the fireplace in this contemporary space.
These are Von’s roses, not from my garden. No scent, but they lasted about 9 days! Viagra roses.
Take note how many of these images have some form of natural wood working beautifully with the orange & black combo.
Such a cool kitch!
Amanda Peet’s entry hall via Vogue
Here, natural wood, orange & black are adding a contemporary pop to an otherwise traditional room.
I want to hang a hammock inside somewhere, don’t you?!
Michael Smith
This is a favorite photo so I’m sorry I don’t have the credit.
Here fiery orange & deep charcoal in my “Boy Barn”
Ben Stiller’s library by Roman-Williams
Black bookcases are terribly chic.
and Hermes blankets always make Mommy happy.
Oh, you naughty young Parisian man in Hotel Costes! How did you get on this post?!
I like the warmth of this living space looking out on to the snow and pines, but can you tell what’s going on on the ceiling?
![image_thumb[50]](http://slimpaley.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/image_thumb50.png?w=870)
