The Cartier Mansion New York has been on my mind since visiting the exhibition at the V&A in London. Spending time with the family history deepened that interest, and I have always been drawn to turn-of-the-century mansions. Built in 1903 on Fifth Avenue, the New York City flagship remains a luxury retail destination while still reading like a well-designed private home. Beyond the jewelry and accessories, the interiors tell a sophisticated story.

The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace serves one purpose: to bring the Royal Collection out of storage and into public view. Most of what you see here normally lives in private rooms, archive vaults, or other royal residences. These exhibitions are often the only chance to see the material up close, and the gallery builds each show around a specific period or them. Rotating the displays every few months, each installation pulls portraits, garments, furniture, and documents from the larger collection.

I walked into the Cartier Jewelry Exhibit expecting sparkle, as one does, but the scale and intention behind each piece stops one cold. Beyond making jewelry; Cartier shaped culture with a designer’s eye for architecture, history, and form. The exhibit moves through eras, influences, and entire worlds of craft. It feels both extravagant and sharply disciplined, which is exactly why I wanted to see it in person.

En route to the Cartier exhibit, I stopped at the main desk inside The Victoria and Albert Museum, and the flooring stopped me first—there’s always something in an old museum that gets me at the very first entry. Large stone pavers stretched across the hall, white and black beneath classic marble columns. The Chihuly glass sculpture hovered above the domed skylight at the main desk, but the floors pulled my attention.

Kensington Palace came with high expectations in my book. I’m not obsessed with the royals, but like everyone else, I can’t look away from a Harry scandal or Kate Middleton’s perfect wardrobe (and hair). My mother adored Princess Diana, and as a kid in the ’90s, I remember her death clearly. All of that history sits in the background, so visiting Kensington Palace—the home tied to every one of these figures—felt exciting.

Notting Hill London shopping has its own rhythm. London shopping in general feels like a full experience, and the major department stores—Liberty of London, Fortnum and Mason, and Harrod’s—make it easy to lose hours. Their architecture matches the scale of the goods inside. Yet Notting Hill offers something different. Not one grand destination, but small boutiques with strong identities and beautiful facades.

Tile, Tub, and a Trophy: Every designer has that one bathroom that just hits differently. Mine features pale blue cabinets, a stone vanity, and marble mosaic floors. I obsessed over every last detail — even the grout color. The result feels calm, classic, and, as it turns out, award-winning. My professional photos of this Milton primary bathroom capture every polished surface and layered texture.

A Building’s Charm The Liberty London department store is one of those rare buildings that practically pulls you inside—the design of the building practially makes you want to spend money. Its exterior could double as a business strategy. The place was packed when I visited, and it’s easy to see why. Beyond the quality clothing, […]

Mayfair Reimagined Tucked into the heart of Mayfair on Grosvenor Square, The Twenty Two is a 31-room boutique hotel housed within an Edwardian manor. The building dates to the early 20th century, with double-height ceilings, ornate plasterwork, and classical proportions that set the tone for its grand yet intimate atmosphere. The hotel sits at one […]

This guide uses a designer’s lens to eat, sleep, and shop London, focusing on places where the interiors drive the experience. Design shows up in everyday settings—restaurants, hotels, and members’ clubs reveal how space shapes how people gather and move. These recommendations highlight where to eat, sleep, and shop, chosen for their architecture, atmosphere, and character.

I felt lucky to be invited on a design field trip with Christopher Farr Cloth. I know their fabrics well and use them often in my projects, but I truly didn’t know what to expect. I had never explored London through the lens of a designer, knew no one else on the trip, and—truthfully—committed before even seeing the itinerary. But you can’t go wrong with a legendary London-based design house, and it paid off.

Some houses announce themselves before you ever cross the front door. Cliveden is one of them. From its formal terraces to the sweep of the front drive, every line hints at power and taste. Perched above the Thames in Buckinghamshire, the estate was rebuilt in 1851 by Sir Charles Barry, whose command of proportion also defines London’s Houses of Parliament. Four decades later, William Waldorf Astor would make it his own—layering Italianate architecture with English romanticism, sculpted gardens, and storied interiors.