HAUTE so FABULOUS

Interiors

Who Is.. Linda Boronkay

InteriorsRebecca O'ByrneComment
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It’s an undeniable love, an elegance as such, of a moment, a day or perhaps a night spent at any one of Soho House’s series of fabulous clubs around the world. As with most things in well working order though, beyond the scenes there is a strong, talented woman with a vision. Linda Boronkay, design director of the groups UK, Europe and Asia territories, is just that for the famed hospitality group. A woman with a fantastical dream that lives far beyond her aesthetically pleasurable designs, Boronkay joined the group in 2016 and has overseen the direction of the brands newest openings since. 

Boronkay was born in Budapest where her love of design was cultivated at home from a young age; her father an architect and her mother the editor of a fashion magazine before eventually becoming an antiques dealer. Full of antiques and vintage pieces, her home was a solid starting ground for what her career would later become. She moved to Paris to study fashion at first and, travelled the world as a model before acknowledging that her heart was really in interiors, moving to London to pursue her career in the industry. Her job is a dream for many, something she has worked undeniably hard for and nurtured since winning the prestigious recognition of Britain’s Best Emerging Interior Design Award. Prior to undertaking her position at Soho House she worked with some of the world’s top designers and firms including Martin Brudnizki, global studio Woods Bagot, Tara Bernerd & Partners and Tom Dixon, each of whom she gained significant experience with and invaluable knowledge from at such high level of design. 

Pioneering in her ability to create a feeling through the combination of the functionality and aesthetics of her creations, Boronkay is a busy lady, traveling the world to oversee the groups newest global openings. For Nick Jones, Soho House’s founder, deciding to open a new club for the brand is always about finding the right building rather than location. Each club has a history and the team begins every project through a conversation with a local historian to understand the buildings past, aiming to bring it’s natural characteristics to life in the redesign. Furniture is either bought vintage or custom made - something Boronkay is very much involved in from her experience of product design during her time with Tom Dixon. The design process is a lengthy one that sees her and her team take into account everything from the history of the building to the important aspects of comfort and functionality of the buildings various spaces, all while keeping the celebrated strong, distinctive style of Soho House very much in tact. And she does it seamlessly. 

During her lengthy and successful career, the designer has developed a diverse and impressive portfolio in luxury hospitality and residential design. Some of her completed projects include work for Nobu, Jamie Oliver, Qantas, Morgans Hotel Group, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Capital Group, Lend Lease and of course Soho House. Spanning 4 continents and 10 countries, you’re bound to stumble upon a Linda Boronkay creation no matter where your travels may take you.


SHOP HOMEWARES FROM SOHO HOUSE


 

A Winter Weekend in Montreal, France

TravelRebecca O'Byrne6 Comments
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Planning a trip to the South of France may, as a default, come to mind as something firmly on your summer to-do list but what if the perfect Winter weekend away could be spent elegantly in the magical surrounds and the wonderfully French backdrop of Montréal, tucked away at Camellas-Lloret at the beginning of December. 

With a short three nights and four days to spare, my Love and I set off on a romantic weekend together that saw us fly into Carcassonne airport from Dublin. Direct flights with Ryanair are irresistibly inexpensive in the off-season months. What took us there? Well, it was almost two years ago that I found a dreamy hotel on Instagram and ever since I just knew it was a place my soul absolutely needed to experience in this lifetime. I was prepared for Camellas-Lloret being a wonderful little haven but in all honesty, it is even dreamier in real-life than I could ever have anticipated (and my oh my the dreaminess is off the charts on their wonderfully curated Instagram account).

Set in the medieval hilltop village of Montréal in the Languedoc region, Camellas-Lloret, is the epitome of what one would imagine everything to be in the South of France (this was our first ever visit), refined yet rustic, touchable yet otherworldly beautiful. A ‘love-project’ of a beautiful couple Annie (a New Yorker) and Colin (from South Africa) Moore, the 18th-century house boasts the most incredible, authentic original structure. With five uniquely designed bedrooms, a simple but beautiful walled garden, the enticing greenhouse which plays home to the lemons and mandarins that make their way to the tables each morning for breakfast in the form of Annie’s marmalade and a terrace perfectly fit for summer evenings dripping in rosé, the place is so divine that you could spend a month and never leave. 

Annie, an interior designer and someone whom I think I'd like to be the I grow up (she’s great at everything from wonderful chats, marmalade making, baking, photography, cooking and just generally being fabulous) - is from New York and has designed the house to feel like ‘home’. White-washed walls and draping vintage linens, contrasting textures with original chandeliers and old-world sculptures are met with the chicest of the chic modern touches throughout. With furniture slipcovers, the perfect kind of magazine stacks and all the buildings original pine flooring, it is founded on authentically refined French elegance along with the toppings of a truly talented interior designer and is exactly where one finds peace and space to relax, surrounded by the kind of beauty found only in the South of France. 

Colin is fantastic with kindly helping guests plan out their days if you are set on exploring the areas around Montréal. His suggested routes guided us to wonderful cafes, tapas bars, museums, the local castle and a beautiful little village nearby famous for its bookstores. All in all, winter weekends at Camellas-Lloret are all about long lie-ins as the sun beams through the shutters, afternoon strolls exploring the beautiful countryside, followed by a glass of white beside the crackling fire, which is where we spend our evenings reading, all cosied up catching up on our favourite books and enjoying wonderful conversations with Annie and Colin. 

Whether you visit in summer or winter, find yourself there for a night or a month, it is a haven that re-ignites the soul and leaves you wondering how you’ll ever leave. 


LOCATION

Montréal, France just a 10/15 minute drive from Carcassonne Airport or one hour from Toulouse

RATES

Starting from €140 per room per night

WHAT TO DO & SEE

Incredible local antique/vintage shopping

Get lost in the surroundings of the Cathar castles

Book in for a body and attitude balancing session with Colin who is a world-renowned doctor of Chiropractic and a wellness coach

Head off for afternoon bike rides by the Canal du Midi

(In summer) Spend your days on beautiful Mediterranean beaches

Spend time relaxing at the house with a book and rosé (all day)

Organise a wine tasting and visit near-by vineyards

TIPS

Renting a car is essential to explore the surrounding towns and villages

Families are very welcome but really the property is much more oriented toward and appreciated by adults

TO BOOK

You can contact Annie directly at annie@camellaslloret.com


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To book, you can contact Annie directly at annie@camellaslloret.com

 

The World of Kelly Wearstler

InteriorsRebecca O'ByrneComment

American interior designer Kelly Wearstler is the epitome of California glamour. In her quest to bring to the world her unparalleled understanding of interiors and design, she continues to lead the way in revolutionising our understanding of modern American glamour and design as an all encompassing lifestyle. 

Shop The Hotlist; Home Edition

InteriorsRebecca O'Byrne1 Comment

Home is where the heart is and the heart can't resist a little attention at times, let's be real. Attention, as it were today with a focus on the details and accents of home. As the season firmly changes and for those of us stepping into summer, it's time to shop this week's HSF Hotlist Home Edition, the one-stop shop where all the pretty accents and details are just a click away from bringing your home a fresh and distinctive little touch of love..

Bag & Bones, The Interview

InteriorsRebecca O'Byrne1 Comment

Gigi and Cavanagh Foyle are two ladies on a mission. A mission of the neon kind. Beginning their careers in health research and aviation law respectively, the two sisters’ current day job is an admirable self-made dream that sees them bring a shining light to the lives of customers the world over.