Private Getaways (106)Our first stop is Jamaica to visit the hilltop estate of English painter Graham Davis. Davis visited the island more than 30 years ago and decided to take up residence. His home boasts beautiful lazy verandahs and a charming attic bedroom with marvelous views.
Next, it's off to an antiquarian's boathouse on the riverbanks of Maine. Lynn Chase is a Bostonian who sought to save an old boathouse from demolition. He bought it and transformed it into a wonderful country house, then filled it with his beloved antiques and architectural fragments.
Tour an interior designer's hacienda near San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The American designer and her family caught what they refer to as "hacienda fever" when they fell in love with Mexican history and purchased an estate that dates back to the 1700s. Today, three generations of the family live there under one roof.
Finally, get a glimpse of celebrity floral designer Kenneth Turner's secluded London hideaway. The country-style townhouse, located in the heart of the city, has its own garden, and its interiors are infused with Turner's floral creations and decorating prowess.
Artist House Facts:
- Graham Davis is considered one of the most important artists in the Caribbean region.
- The original home was built in 1750 as a two-story house, but had to be rebuilt in the 1930s.
Contact Information:
Elizabeth Dinkel
Interior Designer
Leta Austin Foster & Assoc., A.S.I.D.
8544 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90069
310-278-3700
Graham Davis
Homeowner/Artist
www.davispaintings.com
Resources:
Tropical Houses : Living in Nature in Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Java, Bali, and the Coasts of Mexico and Belize
by Tim Street-Porter
Tropical Paradise
by Tan Hock Beng, Bill Bensley (Photographer)
Portal San Miguel
PortalSanMiguel.com
Definitive site for San Miguel; Inside Dentro de San Miguel bilingual print
guide that is available free for tourists
Jamaica Tourist Board
www.jamaicatravel.com
Maine Boathouse Facts:
- The building Lynn Chase lives in, which was built between 1910 and 1915, was at one time a garage and boathouse for the Nantic hotel.
- Chase's shop in Kennebunkport is called River Bank Antiques.
Resources:
Boathouse Days: Inwood-On-Hudson in the 1930s
by R. E. Roberts
Down East Maine: A World Apart
by Frank Van Riper
Maine Tourism
www.visitmaine.com
Hacienda Facts:
- Marcia Brown specializes in 17th and 18th century antiques.
- Once an old mill, Brown's hacienda is approximately 200 years old.
- Haciendas are the castles of Mexico.
Contact Information:
Marcia Brown
Architectural Designer
Revueltas #7 apdo 277
San Miguel de Allende, GTO.
37700, Mexico
52-415-3-53-61
Resources:
The New Hacienda
by Karen Witynski, Joe P. Carr, W. Scott Mitchell, Eugen Logan Wagner
Mexicasa : The Enchanting Inns and Haciendas of Mexico
by Melba Levick (Photographer), Gina Hyams
Hacienda del mar
www.haciendadelmar.com.mx
Floral Townhouse Facts:
- Kenneth Turner is renowned for his floral arrangements at society weddings and balls.
- Turner's townhouse is filled with what he calls "rustic chic" and his trademark--flowers.
Contact Information:
Kenneth Turner
Homeowner/Designer
Kenneth Turner Flower School
58 South Molton Street
London, England W1Y1HH
020 7409 2560
www.kenturnerflowerschool.com
Resources:
A Place to Grow : Voices and Images of Urban Gardeners
by David Hassler (Editor), Lynn Gregor (Editor), Don Snyder (Photographer)
The New City Gardener: Natural Techniques and Necessary Skills for a Successful Urban Garden
by Judith Adam, Tim Saunders (Photographer), Judith Adams
Travel London
www.travellondon.com
