EDITOR'S LETTER

The height of season is definitely upon us. Everything appears more vibrant and more colorful. And in this issue we bring you fabulous color in all hues.

When we were invited into the home of Countess Sharon Sondes and Geoffrey Thomas, we entered a vibrant world in both color and personality. (The life force in this home is palpable.) The couple live to the fullest and their home reflects their journeys to date.

Another "home" that is also filled with items brought back from many travels is Casa Phippsberger, otherwise known as the fragrant and colorful garden Bob Eigelberger created for himself and his wife, artist Susie Phipps Cochran. Even though he originally designed the garden to protect their privacy, today it is a sought-after destination by anyone fortunate enough to get an invitation to the property.

Art, architecture and landscape are also called into play in the homes of artist Edwina Sandys and her architect husband Richard Kaplan. We were fortunate to visit with them in their Palm Beach and upstate New York residences, where we experienced how their viewpoints interact in their surroundings—always with an abundance of a color!

For photographer Priscilla Rattazzi Whittle and her family, soothing Tuscan hues were interwoven in fabrics, furnishings and wall colors to create the warm-weather retreat she had always wanted. One of her "must haves" in picking the location was to be near dear friends. You can see many of her friends as well as wonderful locations captured in her photography show at the Paul Fisher Gallery, opening February 8.

Captured in time is a fitting description for the elegant sport watches we also feature in this issue.

If you want to forget about time altogether (I know all of us can relate to this), be sure to see our piece on destination spas. We asked the well-known designer Clodagh to choose a few of her favorite spas. She gave us a personal, inside look at a variety of destinations that made all of us want to go immediately.

This is just a taste of the many wonderful features we have in this issue. We hope you look further. In the fall of 2008, we will also bring you a Season Preview before we launch our monthly issues from December through March. And we are also inaugurating our Innovation in Design Awards with which we will recognize the best of Florida residential design in Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Kitchens and Baths. See the printed magazine for the contest rules and join us at our kick-off party. See you soon....

Barbara L. Dixon
Editorial Director
barbara.dixon@hcandg.com