Lisa Fine
Photo by Laura Resen
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live?
London
What are three words to describe your style?
1. Colorful
2. Eclectic
3. Timeless
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? I spent a lot of time at The Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans as a child and wanted my bedroom at home to look like that. I had two twin studio beds that resembled sofas just as the hotel room and my walls were covered in posters.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? A pair of red velvet sofas made by Decour in Paris. So many of my best memories and favorite places took place on red velvet banquets.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be?
Francis Elkins and Rory Cameron
No room is complete without something unexpected.
People think of me as ditsy, but I am really shrewd.
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement: Perfection
An hors d’oeuvre platter: Almost everything except nuts and olives. I don’t like to spoil a good dinner.
A bar cabinet: Nothing
A song for:
Dinner at home: Anything by Rat Pack Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin
Working at your desk: I don’t listen to music when I work
Going for a run: Any Bollywood
Biggest Vice? French Fries and corn meal fried oysters.
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy?
Wines on the app VIVINO.
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? When I’m not head to toe in navy blue my favorite uniform, yes! I love color and pattern and am not afraid to mix it all.
Who is your star crush? Cary Grant
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it?
All white and hard edges.
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be? A rare book from the Calico Museum.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? Creating rooms you never want to leave.
Photo by John Cain
A Few Favorites:
Movie: Any Alfred Hitchcock of Doris Day
Book: That’s difficult to impossible! Most recent is Hare with Amber Eyes
Scent: Lipstick Rose Perfume and Cafe Society candle both by Frédéric Malle
The fabric you always come back to: Mughal Flower in Rose
Dream project: Building a Lutyens style bungalow
Meal: My favorite meals are Trishna in Mumbai or Le Duc in Paris
Drink: Dry martini with olives
Hotel: Gritti Palace Venice, Taj in Mumbai, The Connaught London (before refurbishment)
Travel Destination: Places I haven’t been
Artist: Matisse
A cause near and dear to me: Animal causes ( ASPCA, Thrive, ARF……)
Thing to collect obsessively: Books
Era in the history of design: America and England in the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s with a few 18th century French chairs added
Museum: National Portrait Gallery London, Islamic Museum Cairo
Paint Color that always looks great: Sanderson Pink Allure
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: @Mimithor - Mimi Thorisson cookbook writer
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? DOGS, DOGS and more DOGS
