Before working at onefinestay I did production assistant work for a TV production company and independent films.

Where do you live in NYC?

West Village

Where would you like to live in NYC and why?

For now I’m happy in the West Village. There is nothing I love more than walking through the West Village over to the Hudson on a warm spring day and I can’t imagine living in a place where I couldn’t do that!

What is your favourite type of tea and why?

Green tea, because it’s delicious!

Who would be the guest of honour at your dinner party?

Billie Holiday.

What is your favourite word?

Epiphany, because there’s nothing better than the moment you have one!

When did you last get lost?

The last time I got lost was last week on my way to Brinkley’s, one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I’ve been tons of times but for some reason I get lost every single time. I’m partially convinced it’s located in a black hole and it only appears once I’ve been around the block at least three times.

What was the best travel experience you ever had?

The best travel experience I ever had was traveling to Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands. The island is only 10 miles long and 1 mile wide with a population of less than 200. The water was turquoise, the beaches were empty, and the people welcomed us like part of the family!  I’ll never forget the first day of the trip when we rented a car and they informed us that the crime rate was so low that we could leave the keys in the car, never lock it, and they could guarantee it wouldn’t get stolen. They were right!

What is your favourite spot in NYC which you wouldn’t find on a map?

My favorite spot in New York is on a perfectly flat rock on the edge of the pond at Central Park West and 103rd Street.

Tell us a secret

I can quote Sex and the City better than anyone I’ve ever met.

I’ve been a bit of a closet Midcentury Modern-ista ever since sitting on my grandmother’s Ercol dining chairs as a child. I’d heard about the ‘Modern shows’ which are held in Dulwich, South East London and at Lords, St. Johns Wood, but had never taken the time to actually make the trip.

The Modern shows were started by Petra and Lucy back in 2002. They mixed their love for everything from Eley Kishimoto homeware and Multi ceramics to Sixties Scandinavian sideboards and chairs. After selling 90% of the stock in one day, it spurred them to produce larger events.

They certainly seem to have the authority in this period of design, with the likes of Orla Keily, Patrick Kielty, Stephen Merchant, Jenny Eclair, Jimmy Carr, Russell Pinch and Matthew Hilton, Mary Portas (Mary Queen of Shops) all having been spotted at their events.

This event was a small, but perfectly curated, show, with more Hans Wenger and Eames items on display than you could shake a bat at. The stand out pieces for me were on display from the guys at Augustus Greaves…

The SZ01 chair by designer Martin Visser for T’Spectrum – A woven cane around a steel frame with skillful welding on corners of arms.

…who also had the best collection of mid-century lights on display which I had ever seen.

Other stand out pieces included original Robyn denny prints from 1962 (above) and original London underground anti-litter poster prints.

If you also have the Midcentury bug, you can catch the next Modern Show in Dulwhich College on Sunday 1st December 2013

In Water Street, two bedroom and two and-a-half bathrooms inject a craft polish into this an aesthetic composed of cement on steel, soaring ceilings, and two stacked storeys of wide-eyed windows announcing an unmistakeable industrial loft legacy.

Industrial, spacious, but with trendy glamour Water Street is adorned with plush furnishings, hide throws, and fine art fixtures that speak to an attentive, hand-moulded sweetness – a homage to craft, hand-made sensibility and the ecclectic flair of artsy DUMBO.

Space is no object here – peer out over sweeping vistas of the East River and twinkling Manhattan beyond to see for yourself.

At Flatiron Loft in New York, you’ll find a collection of graphic art in the most unlikely of places – the bathroom. Somehow though, it works perfectly.

New Kings Road 2 in Fulham is a hybrid of gallery and home, boasting an imposing sculptural centrepiece in luminous blue at its heart. The artwork here hails from far-flung places, collected from various corners of the globe from Rio to Paris.

Lefferts Avenue in New York is a collector’s haven. While the walls boast illustrations and antlers, the shelves are laden with antique toys, games and marionettes.

Art is taken outdoors at Caroline Close, where the backyard has been transformed into a veritable sculpture park.

Finally to Surrey Row in London. Forget crowded galleries and hard benches, if you adore unusual objects then there’s no better way to appreciate them than from your own snug sofa.

The effect is colourful yet minimal, contemporary yet classic. Notably devoid of wall-hanging art, the items in the room take their place – bold, contemporary and yet in harmony with each other.

Sofas

While there are several eye-catching pieces in this room, one’s eye is invariably drawn first to a vast, abstract sofa. This particular one is from a Swedish company called Svenkst Tenn and, while their store is regrettably in Stockholm, they have a website packed full of similarly vast and wonderful sofas. While you are at it, I strongly suggest browsing through the full design range, from statement jewellery to the sorts of flamboyant fabrics that have been used for the sofa at St Peter’s Street.

Its more modest neighbour, the navy, velvet 2-seater, manages to look equally alluring in a cosy rather than a boastful way. You can get contemporary, classic 2 seaters/oversized armchais like this at SCP – this Oscar armchair by Matthew Hilton delivers the same understated elegance

Svenskt Tenn, www.svenskttenn.se
SCP, www.scp.co.uk

Chandelier

The next thing to grab one’s attention – and deservedly so – is an exquisite Japanese paper chandelier that quivers in the centre of the room. The fragility of this chandelier mirrors the style of the Geishas that are the subject of these suspended images. The result is arresting; a piece of art in itself. You can get a very similar, literary version of this chandelier from Twenty Twenty One , just a stone’s throw away from St Peter’s Street. You can see more of Ingo Maurer’s designs here.

 TwentyTwentyOne, www.twentytwentyone.com

Wooden Floor

This dark, elegant wooden flooring is just a modern take on what would have been the original Georgian floors. Using wood is low maintenance without sacrificing style. One of the best places to buy quality wooden flooring in London is the Natural Wood Floor Company in Wandsworth. Urbane Living  in Chiswick also has a great range of wooden flooring, including oak, walnut and maple.

 Natural Wood Floor Company, www.naturalwoodfloor.co.uk
Urbane Living, www.urbaneliving.co.uk

Paint

Although it doesn’t seem like a design feature, the dark grey walls of this home play a big part in the overall impact of the room, particularly in the absence of wall art. Quality paints in a huge range of colours to suit your tastes and the colour of your furnishings are widely available. Ray Munn  on the Fulham Road provides high quality paints from brands such as Farrow & Ball, Sanderson and Fired Earth, and is popular amongst decorators and interior designers.

 Ray Munn, www.raymunn.co.uk

The Rest

There are plenty of excellent contemporary designers and stores providing sleek, classic furnishings and objects with a twist in London. The owners of Sigmar on the King’s Road bring together interior design expertise with furniture expertise and offer an interior design service creating ‘intelligent and modernist spaces that are warm and personal’, as well as individual pieces.

On the outskirts of London, Chaplins offers a wide and diverse range of striking pieces for every corner of your home, from the garden to your children’s toy box.

If you are on a budget or simply aiming to stuff the empty nooks and crannies of your house, Made.com offers a huge range of contemporary designs, furnishings and objects for the home at vastly reduced prices.

Sigmar, www.sigmarlondon.com
Chaplins, www.chaplins.co.uk
Made, www.made.com

by Sophie Stewart

Conway Street, Soho – with bags of attitude but comfortable too

The words ‘bachelor pad’ conjure up images of circular beds, deep pile carpets and fridges stocked solely for an evening of exotic cocktail making. However we may have rounded the corner. Homes for single men no longer have to be quite so… primitive. A collection of colourfully coherent cushions is no more distant than the local high-street, and a couple of perspex chairs just a few computer clicks away.

Old Nichol Street 2, Shoreditch

The ease of it all means modern man has some new territory to explore and the brave new world of the ‘man cave’ has been born. Stylish, and urbane, but with that bit more directed practical purpose than perhaps the designer of the ‘industrial style shelf’ had in mind.

We’ve been seeing it in our homes for a while now. The cheeky glimpse of the guitar amp tucked behind the armchair, the old work bench turned kitchen counter, the enthusiastic application of concrete, cement and steel in the bathrooms. Traditional room designations are out; glorious space for living (with room for activities) is in. What would have been quiet hours pottering away in the shed can now be spent, guitar in hand, in the pursuit of happiness right in the heart of the home.

Industrial-style four poster bed at Fore Street, City of London

The bicycle becomes the star attraction at East 8th Street, East Village

It’s about adding a rootsy and very personal twist on modern design trends, and in the same swoop, liberating your beloved bicycle to become star attraction in the boudoir. Who needs a football-field sized TV when your signed 1994 World Cup football can take centre-stage above the fireplace?

The ultimate modern man cave, Gallery Loft, Noho

But while hobbies can now mingle with day-to-day living, perhaps a word of warning. From my desk I can spy three bicycles scattered, in various states of repair, around the room. They’re stashed and hidden like a trail of crumbs through a forest, a trail that if you followed it too far, could perhaps lead you back to the dark ages of ye olde bachelor pad – a place which we seem to have thankfully moved on from.

Joey and Chandler from Friends‘ ultimate bachelor pad

Start in the luminous, elegant living quarters. Move from the clean lines and clear surface of the kitchen, through the loud splash of cerise beaming from the dining room table top and the eye-catching Ingo Maurer-designed statement chandelier.

Beyond this the lounge area overlooks abstract art and a mottled grey sectional sofa and couch frame a cubed, modern coffee table.

Savour the breathtaking city views among the miniature pines of the terrace.

Go below to find two children’s rooms, an office, two spacious bathrooms and the light and cosy surrounds of the master bedroom.

So imagine how delighted we were when she featured little old us on GOOP! Always a step or two ahead of the game, she highlighted how many discerning travellers are nowadays turning to homes rather than hotel suites, and we made it to her list of “the more curated and luxurious services out there”. Well, she said it.

See what else Gwyneth had to say about us:

Never ones to get too sentimental (and rather than gushing tirelessly about each and every one of the treasured 200 homes in New York), we couldn’t help but get a little 200-focused, for today at least. Here’s our favourite facts, moments, songs and more relating to the number 200:

The temperature on the moon can vary from -200F to +200F

This year is the 200^th anniversary of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

The Godfather Part II is 200 minutes long

Each dandelion flower head produces 200 seeds

The song 200 Bars by Spiritualized, synopsis by Rishi:

It starts with a buzzing, the low hanging hum of an organ. From the ether a female voice starts to swim into focus, intoning. ’10, 11, 12, 13…’ And on she goes, up and up and up, as more instruments start to join her: the glide of a dulcimer, the jagged strum across a guitar, a bassline sighing as it descends.

’70, 71, 72…’ How long can she go on for? At ’75′ a beat, a cymbal start to make themselves tentatively known. A gathering. A storm will break soon. ’99, 100′ and there’s an eruption of colour; a male voice, lazy, laconic, murmurs, ‘I’m gonna lose my thoughts in 200 bars’. Sweet monotony carries him on and forward, through the waves of memory and regret.

And then just as suddenly, a triangle pings, and the female voice returns: ’200′. And we are on the far shores.

And finally, even if we’ve already seen it 200 times, Usain Bolt running the 200m at last year’s Olympics

I joined onefinestay as, much like everyone else, I viewed their service as an opportunity to earn extra revenue from my home whilst it was sitting empty. What appealed to me most about them was that they take all the hassle out of process and they are the ever-so important go between ensuring that everything is in place for any tenants and above all ensuring, via their high standards, and clientele to match, that my home is exactly as I left it upon my return.

What do you love most about your home?

I love that my home feels like a little oasis in central London. It doesn’t feel at all like I’m living in the middle of the city when I’m here – my Japanese Zen garden with water features help to create that sense of calm. I particularly enjoy sitting out on my deck in the summer as it’s a complete sun trap!

Tell us a little bit about the history of your home.

The history of my home is complicated to say the least. It’s actually the back of a Victorian house and was done up by a go it alone property developer ( not sure you could quite call him that) in the 80s. All the land relating to the property and the neighbours was once common and at one point was a launderette.

Where do you go when you have onefinestay guests?

Last year I travelled a lot so whilst onefinestay were in my property I could be found in South of France, Greece, Thailand and Morocco to name but a few of the wonderful destinations I visited last year.

Who would be your guest of honour?

Given that I’m in the music business I’d probably say that anybody of a high calibre in the creative industries who stayed in my home and enjoyed it would be a treat. Speilberg, Alexander Desplat, Sting?

What is your favourite insider tip for travellers to London?

An insider tip for travellers – my that’s a general question – I’d say that a site I use quite often to keep up to date with hip events and restaurants in Thenudge.com so any traveller that wanted to taste a piece of London life from the eyes of a local I’d point in that direction.

What’s your favourite gadget or utensil in your home?

Favourite gadget is my outdoor speakers. I love having music outside in the summer.

Which property on onefinestay, other than your own, would you like to stay in and why?

This is set to become a reality as very soon I’ll be heading over to NY and Intend on staying in a high end upscale Manhattan apartment – I think the why is obvious .. don’t you?

Which is your favourite room in your house and why?

My favourite room is my living room – I think it represents elements of my personality – it’s muted greys and comfortable soft furnishings suit the nesting side of my personality and yet my wall light ( quite literally my name in lights) is the more flamboyant side to me. It has heaps of natural light – perfect for calm and tranquil mediation and enough variety of lighting options to set any mood. In the summer – all one needs to do to further the experience is open the french doors to the garden and let the sound of running water combined with the soothing voice of Bebel singing bossa nova waft through from my outside speakers – suddenly you have your own bubble and the outside world with all it’s troubles drifts away…

If you could have someone famous stay in your house, who would it be and why?

Despite rumours about his personal life and goings on I still think Tom Cruise is an absolute star and I’d love it if he stayed in my house. I’m a little bit like an over excited child over the most ridiculous things in life and I have to admit that I think this would cause a teenage girl reaction – much the same as when I met Rob Lowe!