Joe Frazier, the great former heavyweight champion, died of liver cancer in November, but not before granting writer Katherine Dunn a lengthy interview that she turned into a terrific portrait of the man.

Frazier is best known as the boxer who defeated Muhammad Ali on March 8, 1971, in the most famous bout in history, but Dunn paints an indelible picture of Joe Frazier the man in her profile that appears in the March issue of Playboy.

She takes you inside Frazier's personal life with vivid details. She tells how, despite being blind in one eye, he repeatedly managed to pass eye examinations.

Frazier had also injured his left eye while preparing for the Olympics. He was hitting a speed bag when the steel swivel broke and a piece of shrapnel flew into his eye. The lens was damaged, the vision clouded. No boxing commission in the country would have allowed Frazier to fight as a pro if word got out. He kept it secret.

All these years later he laughed like a naughty kid, explaining how he got through dozens of commission eye exams by memorizing the eye chart and switching hands instead of eyes when the doctor said "And now cover the other one."

She writes of his infidelity and his long-time relationship with Denise Menz, who was at Frazier's side when he finally succumbed to liver cancer.

Menz went from being the other woman to his constant companion, the most significant figure in his life. She helped guide him through his post-retirement years with skill and aplomb.

On the night Frazier flattened Buster Mathis, another important thing happened. At a party after the fight, the 24-year-old Frazier met Denise Menz, the spunky 19-year-old from New Jersey who would be his lover, friend, office manager, interior decorator, supply clerk, nurse, historian, jokester and companion off and on for the rest of his life.

The laughing, redheaded Menz welcomed me into the apartment she'd been sharing with Frazier since his last spinal surgery, in 2008. She said, "I have a Ph.D. in Frazierology." In addition to running the popular Menz Restaurant near Cape May, New Jersey with her family, Denise is an interior designer. The big front room was full of comfort and grace all the way to the glass wall looking onto the terrace.

Dunn eloquently tells the tale of the time when Frazier was married and Menz was the other woman. She checked into a hotel with Frazier, only to find out he had three other women in the same hotel.

Over the decades, when Denise got mad at Frazier, it was usually over women. The first time, she said, she was devastated. "I was so naive. I knew I was the other woman, but I didn't know there were others."

The best stuff, though, is when she talks about the pressure Frazier felt in 1971 in the build-up to the first Ali fight. Frazier was protected by the police but still didn't feel safe.

There were so many police around him, even as he trained, that Frazier said he felt like "a jailbird."

The pressure became most intense as the fight neared, and Dunn skillfully weaves a narrative.

Frazier was set to fight Ali on March 8, 1971. Two days before, Philadelphia police escorted Frazier to New York City. In his gold Cadillac the usually friendly fighter was so silent and grim that the cops joked about taking an order for his last meal.

In Manhattan a contingent of New York cops met the Cadillac and guarded his hotel room. When fight time came the police smuggled Frazier into Madison Square Garden through an underground tunnel to avoid the mobs outside.

It's a wonderful piece about a fascinating man and one of the greatest boxers ever.

It's so good, you can say you read Playboy for the articles and, at least this time, you'd be telling the truth. (Warning: The landing pages hosting the Frazier story contains links to explicit content.)

Continued here:
Playboy gives legendary champion Smokin? Joe Frazier a final send-off

By CARLETON VARNEY

Special to the Daily News

There are many things prima, from prima ballerinas on the stage to prima classe on Italian aircraft. And there are lots of prima “Donnas” and prima “Dons,” for that matter. But there is only one Prima Antiques & Gallery in the Palm Beaches, and it’s on Antique Row in West Palm Beach.

Prima, of course, means the best of the best, and if you’re in touch with the history of Palm Beach, you know that Addison Mizner was the prima architect of his time. And today, I would venture to say, a prima custodian of the Addison Mizner image is Robert Eigelberger, known to his friends as Bob.

At his shop, he has assembled a collection of authentic Italian Mediterranean furnishings that’s a must-see for decorators — ceramics, mirrors, tapestries and lighting fixtures, any of which could give a home a touch of Palm Beach glamour.

Bob hails from St. Louis and in 1978 came to Palm Beach, where he became an early force in ensuring that the town’s architectural heritage would not be lost to redevelopment by helping found the town’s Landmark Preservation Commission.

It was Bob’s passion for the Mizner style that led him to turn Warden House, a mansion designed by the architect in the 1920s, into six apartments a couple of decades ago.

Those of you who have visited Warden House at 200 N. Ocean Blvd. know that the original floors, doorway details and terraces were carefully preserved for future owners and generations to enjoy.

Eigelberger lived in one of the apartments prior to his marriage to Suzy Cochran Phipps, his creative partner.

Eigelberger also converted and preserved another mansion, Bienestar, on Root Trail, and Villa Flora on North Ocean Boulevard at the corner of Dunbar Road.

If you visit Prima Antiques, I hope Bob will give you some tidbits about the Mizner indoor/outdoor style of living; his own passion for landscaping is well known.

Or you might meet Sybil de Bourbon Parme, who has been an antiques consultant to the shop for years and is also an interior-decorating consultant. For two years, she worked with the late Gianni Versace on his Miami residence Tutt. She assisted contractors, supervised restorers and advised on faux painting, among her duties there.

She enjoyed a youthful stint in Paris and moved to Palm Beach in the 1980s, where she lived with her family in The Vicarage, the historic home on North Lake Way, and met the Eigelbergers who live across the street.

A woman of many talents, she holds a patent on a turbo charger for motorbikes, acquired from her days in Los Angeles. When I asked Bob if he rode a motorcycle, he responded, “No, but I do ride a Vespa.”

Bob and Sybil share a passion for fantasy, creativity, color, Addison Mizner, tropical gardens, cooking, entertaining and offering shoppers high-quality items — and that is what Prima is all about. Stop by Suite 2 at 3300 S. Dixie Highway and see for yourself.

And tell them Carleton Varney sent you.

Go here to read the rest:
Your Family Decorator: Prima Antiques a reflection of Bob Eigelberger, Sybil de Bourbon Parme’s creativity

21-02-2012 03:33 Interior Design Brisbane - from design concept,detailed preparation of plans, project managment and fitout. Furniture selection, art selection. Commercial and residential design.

Original post:
Interior Design Brisbane - Video

22-02-2012 10:34 http://www.divinehome.ca Mississauga Interior Decorator hink of return on investment. A qualified interior decorator knows how to stretch a budget and work with you to create your decorating vision. Divine Home brings years of experience and access to industry suppliers to bring maximum results with a minimum budget.Your home is your biggest investment. Whether you are selling or staying, an investment in renovating and interior home decorating will help maintain and increase your home's value.Home Interior Decorating by Divine Home Staging and Décor. Why settle for "Home Sweet Home" when you can make your home Divine!

The rest is here:
Mississauga Interior Decorator - Video

PILLOW TALK: Having scoured the land for the right pillows for the right price in the right size, I can relate to Laura at Houzz and thank her for the pillow reconnaissance:
"Pillows are often the perfect finishing touch in a room, but it can be frustrating to track down just the right one. This month, I have rounded up my top ten sources for pillows to complement any space, whether you prefer fancy decorator fabrics, shabby chic or soulful '70s style."

OBJECT OPENS IN SEATTLE: News from New York is there's news in Seattle:
"Charlie Schuck, a photographer, opened Object in Seattle last year after hosting pop-up stores in his studio loft to sell the work of local designers. "My idea was to create a Northwest-centered design store without overtly saying, 'This is the Northwest,' " Mr. Schuck, 34, explained."

ORGANIZE IT: I, too, got a kick out of de-cluttering Oprah's BFF Gayle King's closet in the latest issue of "O." From Atlanta blogger, Becky, at Design Public:  
"Because we've been chatting about de-cluttering and getting organized in the new year, I want to tell you to pick up the March 2012 issue of O magazine. Publishing the clutter-clearing issue arrive in March is wise; everyone else is doing it in January, and we've all run out of steam, given up or forgotten about it by March."
When you're done reading it, get organized!

KITCHEN KING: This might be the most elegant and yet quite user-friendly kitchen ever. From Atticmag:
"In this home in suburban Connecticut, a personal vision based on travels to France combined with a love for European furniture inspired a blockbuster kitchen with its own language of ideas and surfaces and – happily -- a budget sufficient to transform the dream into reality. Chief among the many striking features is a complex steel and glass ceiling that resembles a greenhouse, an imposing black La Cornue range with hood to match, and an island styled like antique English furniture that houses a stainless steel prep sink and features a teak-wood top with tiered glass and polished nickel bistro shelves in the center."

-- Bridget A. Otto

View post:
Interior design news & notes: Pillow finder; new store in Seattle; and one fabulous kitchen

17-02-2012 13:13 The Manor House aims to fulfill all of your decorating needs! Located in Colts Neck, NJ, this interior design company features an exciting collection of home furnishings, unique decorating accessories, draperies, fine rugs, and more! Be inspired by the fine furniture and the experienced staff, or bring your own ideas to the table! The Manor House will make your dream home come true! Visit us http://www.yellowpages.com

Read more from the original source:
The Manor House | Interior Design | Colts Neck, NJ - Video

Interior designer Kristina Wolf is seeking new and gently used bras to support Free the Girls and help combat sex trafficking in Africa. Bay Area residents can donate bras at Kristina Wolf Design’s Bra Drive, which is being held at Uptown Body and Fender during Oakland Art Murmur on the first Friday of March, 2012.

Berkeley, CA (PRWEB) February 18, 2012

Bay Area interior designer Kristina Wolf invites everyone to clean out their closets and help save women in Africa from sex trafficking by making donations to a bra drive she is hosting to benefit the non-profit organization “Free the Girls” during the First Friday Art Murmur event in Oakland, CA.

Admire local Oakland artists and help make a difference on a global scale. Kristina Wolf Design team will be taking donations at Uptown Body and Fender in Oakland from 6 to 9 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012.

Don’t have any bras to donate? Bring a buck. In addition to taking donations the Kristina Wolf Design team will be serving complimentary beverages and talking about their cause. All monetary and brassiere donations will go directly to help Free the Girls free sex slaves in Africa.

Free the Girls is a non-profit organization founded in April 2010 by women in Colorado wanting to change the lives of women living in Africa. The charity provides more than financial aid to former sex slaves; it creates self-sustaining job opportunities. Free the Girls sends bra donations to women in crisis, which they can sell for a profit of more than five times the normal day’s minimum wage. These donations help keep women out of sex slavery and give women the means to support themselves and their communities.

Kristina Wolf is a Bay Area interior designer, but is no stranger to global travel and often gathers inspiration for her designs from different countries. She understands the importance of remembering how fortunate Americans are and wants to involve the local community in making a world of difference.

“We really believe in Free the Girls because as a small female-owned and operated business, this is an organization we feel akin to, so we want to lend them support and help give back to the greater world community,” said Kristina Wolf.

To make donations, please stop by Kristina Wolf Design’s Bra Drive at Uptown Body and Fender, located at 401 26th Street in Oakland from 6 to 9 pm on March 2, 2012.

Oakland’s monthly First Friday Art Murmur, is free and open to the public! The mission of Art Murmur is to promote the arts by supporting venues which promote awareness and participation in Oakland arts and culture. This citywide event features many premier art galleries, local restaurants, bars, and cultural venues to explore. Member galleries, generally located between 22nd and 26th Street and along the Broadway/Telegraph corridors, are open to the public from 6 to 9 pm.

For more information regarding the “Free the Girls” bra drive, or to schedule a complimentary consultation for home interior designs, call Kristina Wolf Design at (510) 848-8773 or visit http://www.kristinawolfdesign.com.

About Kristina Wolf Design:

Kristina Wolf Design is a Bay Area interior decorator serving the Oakland Hills, Piedmont, Lafayette, Orinda, and Lamorinda. Located in Berkeley, CA, the team of designers is composed of experienced and modern interior designers also know as the “Wolf-Pack”.

Kristina Wolf Design is a http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kristina-Wolf-Design/115085678520299?ref=search&sid=1540818164.1830862067..1&v=wall [top interior designer in the Bay Area __title__ top interior designer Bay Area] that creates memorable interiors in harmony with each client’s personal vision, with minimal stress. Whether it’s developing a new home interior design or helping clients select the perfect color palette for a paint project, Kristina Wolf Design deepens the connection between customers and their home, while honoring clients’ objectives, schedules, and budget.

###

Kristina Wolf
Kristina Wolf Design
(510) 848-8773
Email Information

See the original post:
Bra Drive During Oakland Art Murmur on First Friday of March to Benefit “Free the Girls”

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard left his home in England for Los Angeles 20 years ago, determined to be a movie star.

The acting thing didn't exactly work out. But in one of those delightful turnabouts in life, he is now the interior designer to the stars. Ed Norton, the Osbournes, Cher and Kid Rock top an eclectic list of clients.

Lawrence-Bullard has made the Architectural Digest and Elle Decor lists of top designers. He is a principal on Bravo TV's "Million Dollar Decorators." He has a new book, "Live, Love & Decorate," with a foreword by client Elton John. And he has just produced his first line of decorator fabrics.

Not bad for a kid whose only movie credit is a bit part in a film written by Ed Wood and produced two decades after his death — as Eartha Kitt's love interest. He stumbled into interior design when the movie's producer liked what he'd done with his West Hollywood house, which he had decorated with flea market finds.

Lawrence-Bullard will take a break from preparations for the second season of "Million Dollar Decorators" to appear Tuesday at the Washington Design Center, where he will speak to members of the trade about the launch of his new fabric collection.

We asked the designer who helped Cher realize her fantasy of rooms decorated to fit the first wife of a maharajah to talk about his inspiration, how he splurges and whether you really need a million dollars to have a beautiful home.

You came to the United States to be an actor and instead became a world-famous designer. Did you see that coming?

I really didn't expect to become this famous designer. Interior design has been in my genes all my life, but I just didn't realize I could manifest it into a career — certainly without training. It has been not only a surprise to me, but it's the absolute joy of my life. To be able to be creative every day of my life — and get paid for it — is my ultimate dream come true.

You are poised for a second season of "Million Dollar Decorators" on Bravo. What did you learn in the first season that might influence the way the team approaches this season?

Season One taught me not only the power of television, but it has shown me the true passion the world has for interior design, and how wonderful and supportive all the fans have been. What I want to show in Season Two is more of the process. I want to let the fans into my life a bit more and open up the understanding that this business is a hardworking, high-stress job that is not all glamorous.

The "drama" on the show might scare away homeowners who are thinking of taking on a major redecorating project. Is this kind of work always that fraught?

When you're dealing with a client's home, it's a very personal space to be in. And when you're spending their hard-earned money, that's even more of a touchy situation. The show has portrayed some of this, but truly, there is nothing more rewarding than creating a special, individual space for a client: a place for them to call their own and be proud of. This is my goal, and hopefully the show lets people see the joy that's at the end of the process. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Does anyone really need a million dollars to decorate a house? What would I get for say, $10,000, versus $1 million?

You don't need a million dollars these days. You can find amazing things that are very reasonable from stores such as Restoration Hardware, which copies and reproduces amazing European antiques and decorative items at very competitive prices. Also Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and West Elm are amazing with their decorative trends at a fraction of designer prices. The main difference is, with a large budget you can incorporate great works of art and, of course, totally customize the interior by making one of the pieces scaled especially for the space and scheme. With a good sense of personal style, however, you can achieve a fine, fun and individual space for yourself on a very small budget.

The focus of the show is, of course, on the design work your group does for celebrities. Are they easier or more difficult than "regular" clients?

Celebrities live their lives in the spotlight. As such, it's vital for their homes to be sanctuaries — places for complete relaxation and privacy. My one great joy with my celebrity clients over the years has been their passion to live out their fantasies, be it an Indian palace in Hollywood, a Tuscan villa in Malibu or an English country cottage in New York City. I'm here to be their enabler and make these fantasies into decorative reality.

If I wanted to give my house the "celebrity" treatment, what decorating items are must-haves?

Star style at home must-haves, of course, include a spacious walk-in closet with a shoe wall — and beautifully furnished to resemble a complete room. Comfort is modern luxury, so every star pad must be ultimately comfortable. Deep, loungy sofas and chaises. Of course, vital for all homes is lighting. The dimmer switch is the most important part of every room. Good lighting is the key to beauty and youthful appearance.

How should I prepare for my first meeting with you as my designer? What do you need to know from me, and how can I find a way to describe what I want?

Read more from the original source:
Bravo's 'Million Dollar Decorator' dishes out inspiration, advice

By Rachel Quigley

Last updated at 4:41 PM on 16th February 2012

An international murder investigation has been launched after an American socialite and interior designer was murdered in her luxury Bangkok hotel room.

Wendy Albano, from Florida, who is known to have decorated Derek Jeter's $20 million Manhattan home, was found stabbed to death by a maid on Monday morning.

The U.S. Embassy in Thailand broke the news to Ms Albano's family earlier this week.

Scroll down for video

Police believe Wendy Albano, left, was strangled and stabbed to death in her Bangkok hotel room by her Indian boyfriend and business associate, right, who is still at large

Police believe the 52-year-old was murdered by her Indian boyfriend, who she was seen checking into the hotel with on February 9.

According to News 13, the pair met through business and were working on a fashion import project together.

But they are also believed to have been dating each other since meeting through work.

He is 26-years-old.

The socialite checked into the Fraser Suites Sukhumvit on February 9 and was last seen on the hotel's surveillance camera on Sunday evening with the Indian man.

Police say he has since fled the country and is still at large.

Decorator to the stars: Wendy is known to have decorated Derek Jeter's $20 million Manhattan home

Family: Wendy leaves behind two daughters, Lauren and Jenny, who are trying to cope with their devastating loss

Detectives said surveillance video caught the suspect leaving Albano's room with luggage an hour after he entered.

Police believe the couple got into an argument and he killed her.

No one else was captured entering or leaving her room until the maid discovered the body the next morning.

She was choked and stabbed multiple times in the chest. Immigration said he left the country three hours after he was captured leaving her hotel room.

Her friends have said she may have had the intention of breaking up with the Indian man.

Hotel: The socialite checked into the Fraser Suites Sukhumvit on February 9 and was last seen on the hotel's surveillance camera on Sunday evening

Luxury suite: A maid at the hotel found Wendy in her hotel room (not pictured) on Monday morning where she had been stabbed multiple times in the chest

Ms Albano's family said she first met him when she did some business with him in India.

One of the designer's daughter told the Tampa Bay Times: 'I loved my mother dearly. Obviously, we're just trying to work through this the best we can.'

Twice married and divorced, Ms Albano leaves behind two daughters Jenny and Lauren. Her interior design business Wendy Albano Interiors was used by many high-profile celebrities.

Friends say Albano was 'talented and had an 'artistic flair'. She had been in the interior design business for 20 years.

Famous clients: Wendy is said to have decorated Derek Jeter's $20 million apartment in Trump World Tower, New York

Wendy and daughter: Police believe the socialite, right, was arguing with her Indian boyfriend when he killed her

Remembered: The 52-year-old was called a great mother and 'fantastic soul' by her friends

Close friend Maxine Stull told the Tampa Bay Times she was considering moving in with her friend. she has known her since college.

She said the last time they spoke, it was on the phone shortly before she left for Thailand.

Ms Stull recalls how happy her friend was and chatting about the man she was dating.

'She was always so positive,' she said. 'What happened, that's the kind of thing that didn't happen in her world.'

Another friend Denise Brown told Fox: 'She was the type of person that would give her love to anybody. She was a loving mother and a fantastic soul.'

Indian boyfriend a suspect in murder of Tampa woman in Thailand: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com

Read the original here:
Florida socialite and celebrity decorator, 52, murdered in Bangkok hotel room by 'Indian boyfriend, 26'

Last Updated: 12:07 AM, February 16, 2012

Posted: 11:49 PM, February 15, 2012

Stunning Heidi Klum spent Valentine’s Day with her decorator. The “Project Runway” host was spotted walking in alone at Hollywood’s Soho House, but her rep said she was there for interior designer Michael Ostrow’s 50th birthday. Klum partied with her three children, who surprised Ostrow with a birthday song and dance they planned for him. Klum announced she was splitting from husband Seal last month after seven years of marriage and three children. Klum was in New York for an annual amfAR gala to kick off Fashion Week, but she then headed back to LA to film “Germany’s Next Top Model.” Seal is in Australia appearing as a judge on Down Under’s version of singing competition “The Voice.”

WireImage

Model Heidi Klum

Continued here:
Heidi Klum spends Valentine’s Day with decorator Michael Ostrow at Soho House LA