HEAT INDEX – What’s turning up the temperature in design, beauty and travel

Some marble picks from current projects; my favorite deodorant; summer entertaining; and fans that defy an unsexy reputation

Wearstlerworld,

This week, I’m sharing with you a ton of favorite products – in beauty, for home, and also some typically BTS things that I think maybe deserve more attention (a good power cord? You need it), and some places where you can step way outside the box (a wine glass with a stone base – it exists!).

What ties them together is the summer months – they all have to do with warmth, sexiness, a little spice – and some ways to keep cool.

So, taking my cues from that, my HEAT INDEX for this month is full of bold shapes, metallics, and some fiery steps away from neutrals.

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FRESH LOOK: BEST IN BEAUTY

The summer, to me, is all about steering really clear of being “overdone” – so it’s glow without being so dewey that it’s mistaken for sweaty; it’s nude shades and just a little fullness; and, natural scents with depth.

What does it for me right now are these:

1. Victoria Beckham’s Posh Balm is a definite favorite – it gives just the right amount of glow

2. I love the Chria high-performance tinted lip filler, it gives a subtly plump lip in a perfect nude shade (and all the pigments are plant-derived, which makes it feel even better on)

3. The Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick – I love the Nectar shade, which has a glassy golden peach that melts into the skin

4. And Black Burn, my favorite natural deodorant, which has this moody, smoky edge that still smells incredibly fresh

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COLOR IT HOT: WARM, SPICED TONES AT HOME

Summer reminds us all about the importance of tension – the heat does something to us all. And, one fundamental for me, when building this into design, is that color needs to have a lot of character. And, I’m most interested when that character feels moody and earthy, but also really energized.

PAINT

For walls, I often turn to Sydney Harbour. One of my favorite paint brands, not just for their rich, saturated colors but also for their incredible presentation – their samples feature real brush swipes, so you can see the true texture and tone.

If I’m creating a space that needs to feel fiery and provocative, Garam Masala is always on the short list – deep, spicy, and full of mood. Two others that are on my list, Turmeric, which I’ve used on a ceiling for a warm, golden glow; and Fired Earth, used on trim to add grounded contrast. All these really sing for me – and of course, as paint should, they have a year-round appeal, but they definitely carry with them a bit of sun.

If you’re looking for something lighter but still chic, Neroli works beautifully, it’s soft but packs a punch.

Case in point: We used these warm, spiced tones in a private family room (image below)—the result is inviting, grounded, and subtly sexy.

MARBLE

I use stone often, so I have some pretty strong opinions about it. I always want it to read as embracing, kinetic, and natural – there should be some fluidity and movement to it, and that is what makes it sexy. Marble does that so well. And, you can build in tension by mixing varieties (of which there are so many! A lot of people get stuck at the white-grey Carrara), or in how they’re laid and how the veining is directed.

Here are some I’m using in current projects:

1. Yello Brocatello di Siena marble

2. Pink Breccia Damascata marble

3. And this Breccia Arabida marble in this amazing mix of cream, rust, and earth

And if you aren’t looking to use stone in architecture, it has a million different applications in objects or furniture – something as simple as a side table, a vase, a cutting board. Less impactful as big surfaces, of course, but sometimes they can be all that you need:

1. The Organic vase by own studio

2. A soap dish

3. A marble cutting board

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BLOW ME AWAY: GOOD FANS THAT I’M A BIG FAN OF

In places like Costa Rica, where my studio and I are working on two projects, a fan isn’t optional, it’s essential. And while fans don’t always have the hottest reputation, I’ve found some that are both beautiful and functional.

1. Stadler Form makes a particularly chic one: it’s compact, sculptural, and crafted from bamboo, which gives it a warm, organic feel

2. For a standing fan with a subtle retro vibe, I love this one by Create. It comes in three colors, but the sage and natural wood combination is my favorite

3. And, the Italian brand Gervasoni makes the sweetest table or floor-standing fan. It’s all handwoven, textural, and unexpectedly charming.

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POWER UP: PORTABLES AND POWER CHARGING

I like music outside for dining, at the beach, and sort of wherever I go – and for that you need a good speaker, and you also need to make sure your phone isn’t about to die. And, I have some favorite tools to keep the tunes going:

1. Best speaker: Beosound Explore speaker – it’s small but mighty, and the Bonfire Orange color feels perfectly in sync with the heat of the season. The sound quality is incredible, even outdoors, and it adds a nice fleck of color in the sand.

2. Best power source, on the go: the Belkin BoostCharge is my go-to power bank for my phone – which, admittedly, gets used a lot. This one comes with its own stand, which makes it incredibly convenient. It’s compact, smartly designed, and perfect for staying powered up without missing a beat.

3. Best power source, at home: Yes to portability, of course, but I’m also a firm believer in a good cord. When I’m at home, and have the luxury of a socket, then there’s the Shinola Five-Port Power Supply. The powder coated finish makes it feel way more considered than most other power cords (it also comes in other beautiful colors, so you it can make sense in a lot of different interiors)

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HOT ENTERTAINMENT: SERVING YOUR DRINKS ICE COLD, AND IN STYLE

A good summer drink, for me, is one that perks you up. I love a hot-spicy margarita, and I think it’s great to play up the dimensions of the drink – any drink! – in how they are served: I love these (1) Bless EXOTERIKA “stoner” wine glasses, from the Berlin-based lifestyle brand Bless. They’re really offbeat, and each one is unique.

And, to keep the conversation flowing, I often premix drinks, and keep them in bottles over ice – so nobody has to step away for too long and fumble with shaking and stirring. I love the (2) Tom Dixon cloud bowl as an ice bucket, it just feels really elevated, and has a ton of capacity – the curved edges are perfect for bottles:

But, when it’s blazing out, you need more support to keep cool-refreshing drinks actually cool. And so a summer best friend is this Yeti cooler, I take it with me everywhere in the summer – especially to the padel court. I love it in this (3) King Crab color; it’s bold, bright, and surprisingly chic. It keeps everything icy cold for hours and is super easy to transport.

It’s a great color scheme, too. I am really feeling oranges and yellows right now (as you can tell also from those paint colors earlier on), and so I am a big fan of this (4) Matégot bowl designed by Mathieu Matégot in the early 1950s. It still reads as super contemporary, and the mustard-gold matte finish is excellent. Great for some fresh summer apricots set out on the table.

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LIGHT ME UP: FIRE, CANDLES, LAMPS

A good fire pit is crucial, and I love this (1) Flecto firepit by Muhly. Instead of being ‘rustic’, it is beautifully reflective, so it bounces around the light and pumps up the drama of the flames.

And, the metallic vibe doesn’t stop there: you’ll need a match.

I am a big fan of this (2) matchstick holder by Chrome Hearts, which feels like a little jewelry box. It’s a splurge, but I love these sorts of things, that make something you’d probably not think twice about instead feel special and precious.

Use them also for these, some towering sculptural candles by the artist Brian Thoreen – they’re just really impactful and bold.

And, on the electrical end of the spectrum, another great Matégot design: the (3) Bagdad Portable Lamp, from 1954. Again – such an ahead-of-its-time look. And, the perforations throw really interesting light. My last tip for the day!

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When I think about all of these things together – sun-baked rich palettes, super dimensional earthy materials, punches of energy and volume – I think I take a lot of inspiration from some of my favorite cities.

Marrakech is one (my guide to the city here) – a city that is not only about its a relaxed breeziness, but also vibrant colors, incredible flavors, and energetic nights that really come alive.

Another is Mexico City (my guide is here) – hot in every sense: palette, tempo, scent, architecture. And the mix is incredible: you walk down a street and pass brutalist concrete, hand-painted tile, bougainvillea spilling over iron balconies. It’s sensory overload, but just in the way that we like it.

And, there are more of these to come: my guide to Ibiza coming in the next couple of weeks!

Love,