Letter from Kay
I love “stuff.” Not just any stuff, but objects with history, character, the right color; objects with the proper proportions or improper personality. Objects, which hold depth. These treasures are not always loaded with meaning or “in your face” odd or even complicated. Rather I search for those items that speak to us effortlessly. From this, a collection is born.
In 1998, I dove into my love of objects working for an iconic Boston-based importer and retailer of home goods from around the world. I was drawn to the story of how objects come to be and the meaning we find in their history. It was while playing a key role at this dynamic company that I honed my skill for discovering beautiful things.
A Curated World is an expression of what I love about travel, home and lifestyle goods and the communities I have discovered over the years. Through the intimate and immediate power of video, A Curated World captures what I discover while traveling to compelling destinations and meeting local trendsetters, designers and artisans. Together we learn about their personal and cultural histories and the connection between the artisan’s touch and a beautiful creation.
A Curated World aims to create a uniquely personal shopping experience through telling the stories that allow you to experience the journey and discovery along with us.
I invite you to dive into the rich cultural life of each city we visit. Discover the most chic and beautiful objects, meet the most influential, style-setting designers and learn from the gifted artisans of the world.
How exciting it will be!
08/23/12
The pouf is so popular today that it would be easy to forget that a few years ago most people would say “what is a pouf?” The headless queen herself, Marie Antoinette, would not criticize you if you claimed it as an 18th century hairstyle.
I received my first Moroccan pouf from dear friends in 2002. It was butter-soft ivory leather with lime green stitching. It has sat prominently in all my living rooms since. A reminder that age-old design never tires.
These friends had moved to Marrakech....
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06/20/12
I remember one year ‘it’ was a paper thin black t-shirt. More recently ‘it’ was a linen tank top dress with a drawstring empire waist. It’s a black maxi dress. It’s a pink silk-tiered skirt… the ‘it’ I am talking about is the one perfect stylish, comfortable, versatile, cool piece in every woman’s wardrobe that gets thrown on again and again all summer-long.
This summer’s IT is a flowing tie-dyed pink and yellow cover up brought to us by Aya’s of Marrakech.
I...
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05/22/12
I first visited Marrakech in 2009. I walked, talked, and shopped for 10 days – heaven found. I tend to wear all black, but I found myself drawn to the colorful necklaces, flaming embroidered pillows and bright leather clutches of one shop in particular, Kif Kif.
Jump ahead to 2011. I am trying to find a ‘fixer’ in Marrakech, a person who can facilitate meeting all the needs of A Curated World. A woman named Stef was recommended several times. She “owns a shop called Kif Kif.” I...
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04/09/12
Akkal means clay in Berber. To me it just sounded like a lovely name of a company, something that rolled off the tongue, but as a pottery studio it made perfect sense. We met Charlotte Barkowski on our second day of filming in Marrakech. We started her interview at the parent showroom, Fenyadi, a lovely two story expansive shop in the industrial area outside Marrakech city proper known as Sidi Ghanem. It was lovely, but stark and white and could have been a showroom in any city.
Things...
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04/05/12
Le Riad Monceau
If you want a classic Moroccan meal in a romantic setting with a fantastic wine list… go to Le Riad Monceau. Located a very short walk from Djemaa El Fna and down a narrow alley – the splendor of this house is enough, but the food that comes from the kitchen allows the day to melt away. Décor aside, it is the renowned artist Isabelle Aubry’s artwork that sets this riad’s elegant tone.
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Foundouk
Foundouk offers inventive...
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03/22/12
Nawal, remarkable fashion designer native to Marrakech, takes Kay on a tour of her studio, Aya, and the two discuss building a global community of artisans.
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03/12/12
See Kay in the Lalla Studio with handbag designer Laetitia Trouillet. Influenced by the intensive shopping trips in the souks of Marrakech searching for the unexpected, Laetitia shares her inspiration and love of the beautiful city.
Find Lalla’s Zarbia Camel bag here.
Video Credit: Produced by Ali Sargent, Photography by Christopher Rufo, Edited by Brian Patriacca, Edited by Chris Guevarra, Music Composition by Steve...
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I think I inherited it from my mother.
She grew up in a middle-class family in Connecticut, married too young, had three children, and with my dad built a sturdy middle class life in a Boston suburb. Along the way she ran the house, played tennis, smoked, drank gin and tonics, read, volunteered, went back to college and got her degree, and worked as a counselor.
She had a passion for the unique and authentic. Her Rolodex was a road map of her travels and a treasure trove of special people and...
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