Happy Coincidence

Me on the plane, waiting to depart

Something really funny just happened to me that I wanted to share with you before the plane takes off. Last weekend, Marcy Blum and I worked together on a wedding for a local couple in the city. It turned out spectacularly, which made me happy, because the couple was such a joy to work with.

Anyway, I'm sitting on the plane right now, on my way to that international job I was talking about yesterday, and as I walk into first class and settle down, who do I run into but the couple whose wedding I designed just this past weekend! They are on their way to their honeymoon, and we just both happened to be on the same flight. How funny is that?

Here's a picture of the outside of my first class cabin.

It was great to run into them and see how happy they are on their way to their honeymoon. It'll keep me motivated as I prepare for my next job. A designer's work is never done...

International Work & Play

December is one of my busiest months! I'm leaving today for an international job I have been eagerly anticipating. That’s why I like to make a big deal out of Thanksgiving and hand out presents early because I'm always away working for Christmas. (Though, don't get me wrong. One of the things I'm most thankful for this year is that my company keeps growing.)

Key people from my staff are coming along with me (actually, they’ve already left for the job), but I’m also hiring a crew of folks locally. The pictures you see throughout this post are from a previous event we did internationally. You can see the army of people it takes, in the picture above, to set up the spaces.

I love working at home in New York City, but I also appreciate working internationally because it gives me an opportunity to meet other cultures and find out about their customs and traditions.

My favorite thing to do is to design so it's very exciting for me to see the job being born. It normally takes six months to a year to plan out one of these international extravaganzas. Throughout all those months I'm orchestrating all aspects of the event, but traveling to the job site and evaluating the production crew allows me to see my imagination come to life. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.

Of course, it’s going to be hard working straight up to the holidays, but the great news is that immediately after this job is over, I'm going on vacation to one of my favorite places in the world--Maldives. Don’t worry, though, you’ll hear more from me throughout this month.

This week, we’ll be talking about some possible presents you can buy for your loved ones and a new way to use gift wrapping paper as décor. Happy travels (whether you’re just driving down the street or flying across the world).

More About The Trip & Why I Loved Hong Kong

When I sit here and think about everything I want to share with you about Hong Kong, one thing stands out in my mind: the people there were amazing (and so elegantly dressed too). Being in the service business, I just have to say that I was in complete awe at the level of attention and service I encountered throughout my entire trip. I was touched by the many subtleties that combine together to differentiate between a “good” experience and a “great” experience.

One example of this is when I arrived at the Hong Kong International airport. When we walked up to the Asiana airlines counter, all the attendants stood up and addressed us—even those who had no obligation to attend to us. It’s definitely different (actually, let’s say completely opposite) of what you would normally encounter at JFK International Airport in New York city (you know what I’m talking about New Yorkers).

Another thing I loved: the shopping (check out the picture of me in action). Hong Kong is known as a shopping mecca and it certainly stands up to this reputation. I took the chance to deck myself out on this trip and visit many of the stores Hong Kong had to offer. I also enjoyed the food so much! One great meal was a family style traditional Chinese dinner at Peking Garden. The freshness and originality of the Chinese food was unlike anything I’ve tried here.

Overall, it was a fabulous trip and I can’t wait to go back.

Back From Hong Kong

Got back from Hong Kong late last night and there was much to catch up on today. For those of you who follow my twitter you may have already seen this, but let me just say one thing about Hong Kong: the food is delicious. I absolutely came back five pounds heavier. But let’s talk more about the trip...

I was in Hong Kong to install several different pieces in the Atrium at the Landmark in Central, Hong Kong. The picture above is one piece of the installation—enormous chandeliers hanging all across the ceiling. The chandeliers hung over a calming fountain which I also decorated with beautiful bouquets of hydrangeas.

The audience reaction was a wonderful experience. Everyone craned their necks up to look at the chandeliers, taking pictures and talking to their friends. We’ll talk more about the trip tomorrow, mainly more about the places my crew and I visited and some new things we discovered.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Hello from the plane! My ride to Hong Kong is about 14 hours long, so I have some time to sit here and write a few thoughts for the blog. I was so excited to get on this plane and settle myself in for the long journey. Why? Well, because, a long plane ride is one of the few times I get to step away from my busy schedule and just sit (and read, relax, etc)...

The first question I have when I’m about to go on a trip is: how long is the plane ride? This way, I’ll get a chance to plan how I’ll spend these precious hours in the air. One of the few luxuries I’m lucky to have is getting to fly first class on these long rides.

It’s a real treat to enjoy the amenities of the plane. For example, the flat bed is amazingly comfortable for being on an airplane, and the food is prepared by an amazing chef, and...wait a minute, there’s only one flower on my tray table. What kind of first class is this?? (Just a joke for all those folks who may not be used to my sense of humor.)

I'll post more from Hong Kong soon.

Traveling Around the World: Next Stop Hong Kong

This week, I’ll be going to Hong Kong for the first time! I’m very excited, and it’s had me thinking a lot about the past trips I’ve taken. The picture above is from a fabric warehouse in India. I felt like a kid in a candy store exploring this fabric shop. One of the things I enjoy about traveling is exploring different cultures and seeing what sort of unique  resources each country offers. For example, I heard that Hong Kong has the best tailors in the world. I’m not really a suit wearing person (can you tell from the pictures I post?) but I will definitely get a few made for me while I’m visiting this week.

Later, I will share more pictures from Hong Kong and post updates about what I end up seeing and doing. What’s your favorite place to visit?

Those of you who know me well already know that my friend Vicente Wolf was the person who inspired me to start my business way back when. By bringing me in on his beautiful home installations, I discovered my flair for styling and his confidence in me was the final push I needed to establish Preston Bailey Designs. Vicente’s sense of style and his charm has always made for great times together and I’ve often brought him along on my major jobs all over the world to help me install. There’s something about our friendship over the past forty years (am I giving my age away here?) that has always been inspiring to me. Vicente is a most curious traveler and the times where the two of us have traveled the globe together have always been incredibly enlightening to me. It is thus with great joy that I’d like to tell you how you too can share in these inspirational travel experiences!

Vicente has launched a new initiative that will take ten guests with him to discover the beauty and inspiration of Thailand in October 2009. You have the chance to go to Bangkok and Chiang Mai with Vicente and visit the traders that he always visits to buy one-off pieces for his luxury Manhattan showroom, VW Home. Vicente’s play of composition, scale, color, contrast and light has made him a master of his trade over the past 30 years and he will take his ten guests to his favorite antique stores and restaurants, the tailor where he gets his stylish outfits made and guests will even have the opportunity to visit his shoemaker for a pair of perfect heels!

But it’s about more than just traveling to an exotic destination with one of the world’s favorite designers. What makes this experience really special is that Vicente is offering a full-circle opportunity that starts with the option of an in-home consultation prior to the trip for him to analyze the space and ascertain what opportunities can be found in the travels. With this visit setting the stage for what’s to come, Wolf will guide his travel companions, once abroad, to shop the wonderful markets with expert input to ensure that they bring the world into their home – on a personal basis. Once the goods arrive, Vicente will make a second trip to the guest’s home to assist in their placement so that the items can fully represent their education.

The cost of traveling with Vicente is $15,000 per person, which includes one-on-one time with one of my best friends, but excludes the cost of travel for Vicente to visit each guest’s home and all travel accommodation and fees for guests. Travel arrangements will be handled by Sterling Brownell Travel and in Thailand, my favorite luxury tour operators Abercrombie and Kent will take care of guests. Vicente’s latest book, Crossing Boundaries, focuses on the inspiration he draws from his travels and how he translates what he sees in the far-off places he visits into the residences, hotels and restaurants he designs. For more on his work visit http://www.vicentewolf.com/

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact travel@vicentewolf.com or visit http://www.vicentewolftravel.com/.