April 14th, 2009
Longing for the elegant aesthetic of an English country house? Look no further than The Royal Oak Foundation Collection. Each design is inspired by classic British art and architecture found on the properties of the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland that The Royal Oak Foundation has supported with over $7 million in grants. The sale of these products generates royalties that support ongoing preservation and conservation of the more than 300 important historic houses and gardens that influenced their design. Available to the trade exclusively at Lee Jofa showrooms in New York, Atlanta, and elsewhere, The Royal Oak Foundation Collection includes Lee Jofa fabrics, Holland & Company furniture, Cole & Son wallpaper, and Katha Diddèl home accessories.
If you’re in New York this spring, stop by the D&D Building where The Royal Oak Foundation Collection will be on display in a lobby window. (more…)
April 13th, 2009
Guess where we’re dreaming of jetting off to this summer? The Grand Canyon? Cold. Ibiza? You’re getting warmer. South of France? Hot. The picturesque hillside community of Ramatuelle on the Côte d’Azur? Sizzling, spot-on! And where to stay? The brand-new La Réserve Ramatuelle, that’s where. La Réserve, the sophisticated hospitality group with a Jacques Garcia-designed hotel on Lake Geneva and apartment flats in Paris will open their third property, La Réserve Ramatuelle, on June 1, 2009. Right outside St. Tropez, La Réserve Ramatuelle is an elegant, intimate getaway with views of the Mediterranean as far as the eye can see. World-renowned architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte-designed Ramatuelle’s new hotel and spa, creating an exceptional streamlined retreat. (more…)
April 7th, 2009
Several years ago, the king of Morocco put forth Vision 2010 announcing the proposal to attract ten million tourists to Morocco by 2010. As a result, hotels have been steadily opening since 2001, and a handful more will open in the next two years. All of these, however, pale in comparison to the crowning development, Le Royal Mansour Marrakech.
One of the few privately-owned hotel properties in Marrakech, Le Royal Mansour recreates a historical medina, paying homage to the architecture and ambience of Marrakech at its height in the 16th century. Built into the historic wall of Marrakech, the property is designed with traditional Morocco in mind, complete with handcrafted wood and antique furniture, ornate tiles, and spectacular water displays and fountains. The project is unique to contemporary Marrakech with no expense spared in aesthetic or service; the finest teams in design, architecture, management, and cuisine were brought in, including the culinary expertise of three-timed Michelin-starred Yannick Alléno.
Le Royal Mansour Marrakech will have a soft opening on September 1 and will be fully open on November 1, 2009.
March 19th, 2009
Sure Greenway was once the haven for the world’s best-selling author Agatha Christie. But the former holiday home also provided a base for a fleet from the U.S. Coastguard preparing for D-Day in the fall of 1943 as mentioned in today’s New York Times.
One member of the Coastguard who was stationed there during WWII happened to read this morning’s paper. He immediately rang The Royal Oak Foundation offices to share his memories of his time in the famed house, recounting a fellow soldier, Lt. Marshall Lee, who used the walls of the library to portray local scenes of the war … and even to depict a female au natural!
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March 17th, 2009
With spring around the corner – and in the air (New Yorkers are rejoicing at the prospect of 60-degree weather forecasts) – garden lovers are dusting the dirt off their shovels and trowels and sharpening their clippers. Warm weather aside, here’s another reason for excitement: The Royal Oak Foundation’s annual British Garden Tour.
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February 19th, 2009
One can still hear yodelers calling from the Alps in Switzerland. In a country with such a rich relationship to the outdoors, that’s not surprising.
But who knew that there are three major music festivals a year in Lucerne? The first festival took place seventy years ago, in the gardens of Richard Wagner’s villa. Now an Easter festival, Summer festival, and Piano festival round out the year in this beloved Swiss city.
First up is the LUCERNE FESTIVAL at Easter, from March 28 to April 5. The mix of sacred and secular music, much of it performed in churches around the city, just might lift everyone out of their winter blues. Among the headlining events is the soaring conclusion to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and performances honoring the 200th anniversary of the death of Haydn and the 250th anniversary of the death of Handel. A new spin on a ‘spring awakening,’ for sure.
As an added pleasure for culture-lover, several events will take place at the KKL, the Culture and Congress Center. The KKL was designed by Jean Nouvel, an edgy architect who was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2008. The KKL has outrageous acoustics and overhangs Lake Lucerne. The spot is so sensational that it may just inspire a little yodeling.
Come home to the Palace Luzern, just across the lake from the KKL. Feast at their Michelin-starred restaurant Jasper and hear a little night music at the bar, where the musicians tend to hang out after-hours. Finally, curl up in the Suite of Arts and wake up to a Swiss spring.
January 21st, 2009
A tranquil haven from the city, New York’s largest luxury spa,
The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, New York opened January 1, 2009, spanning three floors and 35,000 square feet. The spa, designed by New York-based Alexandra Champalimaud, features a Fitness Center, a glass-enclosed pool with panoramic views of the city, and
ESPA‘s signature dramatic design elements, such as the stunning marble ice fountain surrounded by a 24-karat-gold mosaic by Bisazza.
In addition to ESPA’s core line of
products and
treatments, the new spa will introduce
ESPA Super Active, a highly-advanced range of products with pure, potent combinations of 100% natural ingredients. The revolutionary line complements
three new 90-minute facials that offer complex lymphatic drainage massage techniques and use of Rose Quartz Crystal for product application to yield immediate, visible results for specific skincare concerns such as Rosacea, wrinkles, damaged skin, uneven tone, and extremely dry skin.
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November 21st, 2008
The legacy of the Rockefellers lives on at The Woodstock Inn and Resort, which unveiled its new restaurant, The Red Rooster, this fall. While it’s a well known fact that renowned philanthropist and conservationist Laurance Rockefeller vacationed in Woodstock with him family, a more detailed glance into Laurance’s history at the Inn reveals a whimsical painting of a red rooster that hung in his suite. The painting has since been lost, but it’s playful spirit lives on in the laid-back, Vermont casual atmosphere of The Red Rooster restaurant.
The dining concept, created by New York’s esteemed Blue Ribbon Group, draws from the best purveyors in New England, emphasizing fresh, local ingredients such as specialty cheeses, shellfish, and heirloom fruits and vegetables. The new décor, designed by Peter Guzy Architects, is comfortably chic, with tamarack woodwork in the form of wainscoting and a natural bar, furnished entirely in Vermont marble.
For an appetizer, try the Braised Pork Belly, followed by Blue Ribbon’s Northern Fried Chicken with Maple Syrup. Desserts like the Maple Walnut and Banana Bread Pudding are sure to become instant classics as well. Looking for a family favorite? Stick to the signature Oysters Rockefeller as a throwback to the great John D.
Visit http://www.woodstockinn.com/
November 19th, 2008
As anyone who has ever gone to Art Basel (the Swiss original, not the Miami offshoot) knows, finding a decent hotel room is next to impossible. The good hotels are spoken for months in advance, leaving auction house and gallery assistants scrambling. However, the well hasn’t run completely dry: capitalize on Switzerland‘s stunningly efficient national rail system and consider staying in a nearby town like Bern, a quick one-hour ride to the center of Basel. The only five-star hotel in the Swiss capital of Bern, the Bellevue Palace, is certainly worth the short trip.
Not to mention, Bern is an infinitely more charming place to wake up in each morning. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with medieval streets full of kooky boutiques (Gothic gear, handmade wooden toys, avant-garde kitchen items) set against a backdrop of the River Aare and a perfectly Swiss alpine landscape. The hotel sits next to the Swiss Parliament, and some say that more decisions are made over lunch on the Bellevue Palace terrace than in the halls of its more official neighbor. For more information on the Bellevue Palace, visit www.bellevue-palace.ch/en.
AMPR Calendar: 2009 Fairs in Basel: BaselWorld, Watch and Jewelry Show – March 26 through April 2, 2009 / Art Basel – June 10-14, 2009 / Basel Wine Fair – October 24 through November 1, 2009
August 27th, 2008
Fan or foe of the many period films made in England these days (Becoming Jane and The Duchess, to name but two), there is no denying the moody allure of the backdrops. With a wealth of preserved grounds and estates at the ready, filmmakers go straight to the source, forgoing the dreaded green screen. This holiday, take a trip full of cinematic intrigue and visit one of many National Trust properties that have played roles in the iconic films of our time.
Make the deal a little sweeter with some pre-trip planning: savvy travelers who join The Royal Oak Foundation, the US affiliate of the venerable National Trust, gain FREE access to all the properties featured below. Individual Royal Oak Foundation memberships cost only $55; pay only $90 for an entire family membership. Don’t wait, though – buying a membership pass in the UK means paying double, as an individual membership costs a whopping £46!
The most recent films shot on location at National Trust properties include…
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