Designer Peter Dunham at Hudson Grace Montecito

I attended the Hudson Grace Montecito’s opening launch of their new collaboration with Los Angeles based interior designer Peter Dunham. Congratulations to Monelle Totah, co-owner of Hudson Grace, and Dunham; it is just brilliant!

Both Totah and Dunham were holding court at the launch, as interior designers, architects, fans and loyal customers flocked to have the first look at the tastefully designed tableware and linens set to be a mix and match – a wide variety of color and design. Each piece is hand printed, the tableware is made in Italy and the linens in India. The color palettesare shades of yellows, blues, greens and reds; and the designs are Fez, Kashmir Paisley, Fig Leaf, Shani Floral, Bukhara Ikat, and Starburst.

Both brands are a destination for timeless style, and the collab seals it. The concept of hand printing Dunham’s colorful palette and tastefully designed prints onto classic Hudson Grace tableware and linens is your new go to.

The launch at the Montecito store was specifically timed with Dunham’s 320-page hardcover book release, The World of Peter Dunham, Global Style from Paris to Hollywood, by Vendome Press. The book showcases his work and various design concepts for his clients. 

I spoke at length with Totah and Dunham at the launch. Totah explained how the collab was spawned. “Prints were something not on my list, but I knew if I ever wanted to do a print, I wanted to do one with Peter because I admire his sense of color, and his color is so bold, so bright, and so cool, and he mixes and matches like nobody’s business. He’s British and has that in his spirit. The minute I met him it was like best friends. We had a ball and pulled this collab off in two to three months. The designs we are using are from Peter’s fabric designs, and we changed some of the colors. So for example, this is his Kashmir design, and we made it into a napkin, isn’t it fun!? For the tableware, each one is hand painted in Italy, which you can feel – and each one is a little different. They’re just so great!”

Dunham added, “It was wonderful to do a collaboration with Hudson Grace just as my book was coming out, because it celebrates a lot of patterns and color – and that is what Hudson Grace came to me for; an expertise in color and pattern. The collection we did is really from a lot of my most successful designs. We are going to go forward and do a collection for fall, Christmas, and Spring again. It has been a wonderful fun time with them. They have a great approach – friendly and fun. This feels like the right place. It was done really quickly, and they did an amazing job. We got on really well, so it was fun. I live in Los Angeles and New York City; it’s a really fun life!”

Seen at the event were a who’s who of publicists, architects, interior designers and devotees of design – Montecito Country Mart owners Jim and Heather Rosenfield; Jenny Belushi who co-owns the Poppy stores with Heather Rosenfeld; architect Andrew Tullis; Stephanie Williams of Lee Stanton Antiques; designer Tineke Triggs; Beth Evick; Norinne DeGal, CEO of Walnut Wallpaper LA; and fashionista publicist Anne Crawford (LA Style Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine and fashion director at Town & Country Magazine NY) with husband Dudley DeZonia,the owner of Royal Truck Body.

Following this launch, Totah and Dunham will be busy designing the fall and Christmas collections to be in the store soon!

411: www.hollywoodathome.com/collections/peter-dunham-hudson-grace