I always forget just how beautiful, pristine and naturally rich the Bahamas are. We travel halfway around the world looking for gorgeous beaches – Indonesia, offshore Southeast Asian islands, the Maldives – and on our own doorstep I believe we have the finest water and beaches found anywhere on earth. Because the sand is so white, you have that gorgeous play of multi-hued blues ranging from powder to turquoise to deep navy. Some beaches drop off deep providing great diving; others descend gradually toward a reef, offering children and lazy ones like me a natural pool. From the Exumas’ cays north to Nassau, Abaco and Andros, the Bahamas are the playground for fishermen, divers, snorkelers, vacationers – and naturalists. Each island has its own natural offering: the Abaco parrot; a Blue Hole like the one above on Long Island; elusive manatees, dolphins, whales, sharks and sea lions, all of whom beckon scuba, free divers and snorkelers. Over this wide spread of sea and sand there truly is something for everyone.
John Derian is a treasure. It's not that there aren't many with talent and vision because there are, the world over. But Derian has other attributes that make him so beloved. His eye is unerring, his sense of scale is perfect, he layers cultures and eras seamlessly in a room. And he is accessible in brick and mortar. His two shops on East Second Street have been haunts for years. One carries the decoupage he designs and constructs locally (and that make the best gifts ever) along with the coveted ceramics of Astier de Villatte. The second Dry Goods store next door showcases quirky antiques, an assortment of vintage furniture, stacks of heavy french linen, Moroccan rugs and soft cotton Indian clothing. Both are small, but intriguing and interesting enough to seduce you on a journey of the senses.
And now, Derian has opened on Christopher Street in a double-windowed storefront of a two-story 18th century house. It's like walking in to another world. Traditional Astier, and the later Derian/Astier collaborative pieces, line the walls from roof to floor of the front room. The back room, wallpapered in his new cabbage rose design and lit by beautiful Balthus-designed standing lamps with parchment shades, offers a living room in which to settle in, thumb through books and albums, and rest the soul.
So, go to shop, or simply go to travel in spirit to another place and time.
https://www.johnderian.com/pages/our-locations"
["post_title"]=>
string(21) "John Derian Goes West"
["post_excerpt"]=>
string(0) ""
["post_status"]=>
string(7) "publish"
["comment_status"]=>
string(4) "open"
["ping_status"]=>
string(4) "open"
["post_password"]=>
string(0) ""
["post_name"]=>
string(21) "john-derian-goes-west"
["to_ping"]=>
string(0) ""
["pinged"]=>
string(0) ""
["post_modified"]=>
string(19) "2018-06-07 09:33:42"
["post_modified_gmt"]=>
string(19) "2018-06-07 13:33:42"
["post_content_filtered"]=>
string(0) ""
["post_parent"]=>
int(0)
["guid"]=>
string(31) "http://lisalindblad.com/?p=8571"
["menu_order"]=>
int(0)
["post_type"]=>
string(4) "post"
["post_mime_type"]=>
string(0) ""
["comment_count"]=>
string(1) "0"
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
}