Margaret Russell, Editor In Chief of Architectural Digest, and David Rosenblatt, CEO of 1stdibs, threw a party Monday night to celebrate the launch of interior designer Robert Couturier's book, Designing Paradises. Couturier has been at the forefront of great design since financier Jimmy Goldsmith tapped him to shape the Mexican resort Cuixmala into an extraordinary paradise, a favorite of sophisticated travelers. Couturier went on to design all but one of Goldsmith's homes, and has a loyal and devoted clientele around the world.
"I wanted Designing Paradises to be a personal story and not a boring collection of living rooms," said the always upbeat Couturier. "Hopefully it's not boring; it's certainly not a collection of living rooms."
"I didn't want to write the book," continued Couturier. "I was convinced that I had to do it by Katharina Plath, and by the ladies of Rizzoli who are these incredibly tenacious people. I'm glad they persevered."
Couturier's Connecticut neighbor Carolyne Roehm, no stranger herself to design, wrote the preface.
"That little French scoundrel is my favorite," said Roehm. "He's the one person that I could actually move in with and live happily ever after. He's fun, he's cultivated, he's smart, he's well-educated, and he loves dogs. That's enough for me, honey."
Russell has featured Couturier's work in Architectural Digest a number of times. He is one of the designers featured on the magazine's coveted AD 100 list.
"Robert is a fascinating designer, he's the best type of designer for Architectural Digest," said Russell. "He really knows what he loves, he has strong opinions. He has created the most beautiful house in Connecticut. All of us are so deeply in love with it. What really makes it work is he has such a clear vision, both for his own marvelous house and for his clients."
Neue House was packed with Couturier's fans and friends, including Hilary and Wilbur Ross, Nina Griscom, Antony Todd, Carlos Souza and Amy Fine Collins.
"Robert's personality is as inviting as his spaces," said architect and designer Lee Mindel, to everyone's agreement.
"We wanted to co-host the event because 1stdibs has been a long time sponsor of great design in general," said Rosenblatt. "Robert is a fantastic example of that and so we wanted to both be associated with him and with Architectural Digest, and also help him by promoting his work to our audience."
Rosenblatt also spoke of his vision for 1stdibs' future, and its exciting association with Alibaba.
"Our goal is to be the leading digital source for high-end design in the world," said Rosenblatt. "We're off to a pretty good start: we already have the biggest aggregation of high-end design, mostly in the furniture industry. We started out as a Mid-Century Modern specialist and we've continued to expand to Modern. We are adding new categories, new geographies and new industries. We've added jewelry, fashion, fine art, and increasingly we're adding Contemporary."
"I have a personal relationship dating back some time with several of the people at Alibaba," Rosenblatt continued. "They are the world's largest marketplace. We're also a marketplace; we're in a different geographic market and a different industry, but they know a good thing when they see it. They wanted to partner with us, and we hope that someday when we enter China we will be able to work together."
