ELLE DECOR June 2008 Editor's Page

Photographed by Firooz Zahedi • Makeup by Margret Avery • Hair by Arsen Gurgov at Louis Licari Salon

As a reasonably self-aware workaholic, I thought I had found Nirvana when I stumbled upon an interview with Philip Johnson in which the great American architect acerbically said, "I hate vacations. If you can build buildings, why sit on the beach?" Brilliant, I thought; what a genius! That is, of course, until I turned off my computer and regained my senses.

With all due respect to Mr. Johnson -- who found his true calling surprisingly late in life, created some of the most iconic structures of the 20th century, and, I suppose, might not have been such an extraordinary success had he spent more time lounging under a palm tree -- everyone needs time off. But where?

You can divide most people into two groups when it comes to the geography of holidays: beach devotees and mountain-lake enthusiasts. When I was a child in Connecticut, I couldn't imagine why anyone would head north to a cabin in the woods -- likely spider-infested and definitely musty -- when you could drive to the postcard-perfect ocean beaches of the nearby Hamptons. My family spent summers in idyllic Amagansett, near the tip of Long Island, but when I was in college I fell in love with a guy who practically dragged me to his favorite spot -- Wolfeboro, a picturesque New Hampshire village situated on Lake Winnipesaukee. Romance opened my eyes: Mountain lakes are beyond magical; there's a still, quiet beauty you won't find at the seashore. My experiences there were so visceral that I can still conjure the scent of the pine trees and the clarity of the sparkling water.

Scenic charm may draw us to a particular location, but why we end up being able to relax there is largely about memory and emotion. Little wonder then that significant energy and funds are invested in where we choose to spend our time off. This month we introduce you to people who know how to get away from it all with style, including designer Edwina Hunt (pared-down rustic retreat in the middle of blissful nowhere), media couple Cristina and Chris Cuomo (relaxed cottage), tastemaker Peri Wolfman (modernist metal mecca next to a cornfield), and our cover-story subject, event guru Renny Reynolds.

Renny's place personifies everything a vacation home should be -- it has a casual, barefoot-chic vibe, but it boasts a highly personal collection of art, unexpected midcentury furnishings, and a healthy dose of whimsy. In short, it's great fun, and to paraphrase Dorothy Draper -- a design icon at the opposite end of the spectrum from Philip Johnson -- that is exactly what getaway decorating should be.

Margaret Russell, Editor in Chief
elledecor@hfmus.com

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