A scene from the Cabana x 1stdibs dinner, held in London to celebrate the launch of the second collaboration between the two brands.
Last night London’s most decorative denizens gathered for a dinner to celebrate the launch of the second collaboration between Cabana magazine and 1stdibs: an online pop-up shop featuring vintage, rare and limited-edition wares hand-selected by Cabana editor-in-chief Martina Mondadori.
Cabana’s unabashedly maximalist style was brought to life with a soaring installation of the magazine’s new wallpaper, a collaboration with Milanese manufacturer Dedar that is based on a motif found in Mondadori’s Renzo Mongiardino-designed childhood home. London design duo Campbell-Rey outfitted the space with items from the pop-up — including Iranian tablecloths, Murano glasses and hand-painted crockery — for the likes of Jasper Conran, Allegra Hicks, Sabine Getty, Patrick Kinmonth, Charotte Dellal, Ben Pentreath and Nicky Haslam. We caught up with some of the guests to discover what their dream design purchase would be, and who they would invite to a fantasy decorator’s dinner party.
Miguel Flores-Vianna, photographer
Where would your ultimate Casa Cabana be?
Somewhere secluded on a Greek island.
And what about your dream 1stdibs purchase?
A lovely four-poster bed, for the Casa Cabana on my Greek island obviously!
Do you have any design guilty pleasures?
The ultimate pleasure would be to shop, shop, shop and never feel guilty.
Which room in your house would you use the Cabana wallpaper?
In the office or the library.
Who do spend the most time shopping for?
I would guess my partner.
Who would be invited to your fantasy decorator’s dinner party?
As this is a Cabana moment, we would have to have Mongiardino to start with. I would also love to have Halston because I thought he was quite wonderful. And some of Mongiardino’s clients would be very interesting I think; I suppose Marie Hélène de Rothschild, and then you have to mix it up a bit, so Mick Jagger would probably be nice. And finally a beautiful woman — but I would leave that up to Mick!
Carolina Irving, interior and textile designer
What would be your ultimate Casa Cabana purchase?
Other than my own plates, I would like the Iznik floral motif plates by Laboratorio Paravicini with tulips. They’re hand painted and they really look fantastic. I also love the Moroccan poufs that are made from raffia.
Which room would you cover in the Cabana and Dedar wallpaper?
I think it would be amazing for an entrance hall or a dining room. I am obsessed with it.
Who do you spend the most time thinking about Christmas presents for?
My children without a doubt, but they’re all very difficult to buy for!
Patrick Kinmonth, Renaissance man (opera director, filmmaker, writer, painter, interior designer, creative director and curator!)
If money was no object, what would be your dream 1stdibs purchase?
I’d buy the whole thing. I wish I owned the company.
And what about your dream buy from the Casa Cabana pop-up?
Martina Mondadori, without a doubt.
If you were to use the wallpaper in your room, where would you use it?
Somewhere small but perfectly formed.
Who would you invite to your decorator’s dinner party?
Syrie Maugham. And Nancy Lancaster for dessert.
Nicky Haslam, interior designer
What would be your dream 1stdibs purchase?
There’s was a wonderful mirror-framed venetian chair from Richard Feigen that I loved.
If you were to use the Cabana wallpaper anywhere in a project, where would you use it?
On the ceiling. Everywhere!
Who would you invite to your dream decorator’s dinner?
I suppose one would want Dorothy Draper, really. She would be fun, nice and bossy. Ange-Jacques Gabriel, and what’s the great Cuban designer called, you know French one from the 1940s who did the yacht for Arturo López Willshaw? Emilio Terry! Acually I wouldn’t mind the yacht too — it had giraffe skin chairs!
