James Andrew at Lyford Cay
If I haven’t made it clear by now, I’ll say it again, I am just wildly crazy about Lyford Cay!
This impossibly chic bastion of old world manners, charm, elegance and sophistication is always beckoning me back, and so it goes without saying that the Second Annual Lyford Cay Club Design Weekend was a not to be missed affair—and with honorary chairperson, Newell Turner, we were guaranteed a wonderfully edifying weekend!
First off was a tea and guest book signing. Later came cocktails and a superb lecture by legendary interior designer, Nina Cambell, followed by a screening of photographer and film maker Bruce Weber’s “The Life of Elizabeth Taylor.” The film is a deeply moving tribute to Taylor and I can tell you there was not a dry eye in the house upon its conclusion. (Do see it when you can).
We ended the evening with the most delicious dinner at the Lyford Cay Yacht Club where I had the great honor to be seated at the aforementioned legendary Bruce Weber’s table! It was a thrill to be able to convey to him how inspirational his pictorials in GQ and elsewhere were to me as a younger man in the 70s and 80s and how his work continues to enthrall and inspire me today.
Saturday’s program provided us with tours of selection on distinct and contrasting homes in Lyford. There were eight homes in total on this year’s tour, highlighting the many different styles that exist here, all reflecting a range of aesthetic held by the highly individualistic members of the Lyford Cay Club.
Our tour included my dear friend, Lulu De Kwiatkowski’s family home, “Serendip Cove,” which was originally decorated by Sister Parish and updated by Kwiatkowski with all of her rather fabulous fabrics and bedding – it is one of the most storied homes in the Caribbean with magical tropical gardens and a massive swath of one of Lyford’s most beautiful beaches.
We were also treated to “Bayview,” a magnificent home perched high on top of a ridge overlooking Lyford with the most ravishing interiors by Amanda Lindroth. I hope this property will grace the pages of design magazines soon, as it simply must be seen – a truly monumental project!
Complimenting the tour was “Chelsea House,” the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Bond. It’s a modernist Lyford “cottage” originally built for Sir Guy and Lady Henderson that is beautifully decorated by my dear friend and Lyford host, the impossibly chic John Fondas, who has created a splendid lux modernist tropical retreat to die for.
Our day of design drew to a close with another gorgeous Lyford ritual cocktail hour followed by a designer panel moderated by Newell Turner with designers David Kleinberg, Mary McDonald, Miles Redd and Jennifer Boles—giving us a chance to hear their shared musings on design and inspiration.
A delicious “Elsie de Wolfe” dinner capped off our wonderful Saturday in the main dining room with the most sublime menu created by my brilliant friend, chef Alex Hitz in concert with Lyford Cay’s renowned Chef Pascal.
Dressed in suitable dinner regalia (another time-honored and respected Lyford observance), I’m sporting a spectacular Tom Ford “Wetherby” suit in ocean blue wool silk linen melange, white cotton shirt with French cuffs, pale blue silk knit tie by Turnbull and Asser, pale blue, royal and white silk pocket square, pearl and pale blue sapphire cuff links, vintage Rolex, Pierre Hardy cobalt suede demi boots, and my fragrance is Tom Ford Neroli Portofino.
