Everyone’s fave million-dollar decorators are in Manila

Social media is so powerful in that it directly links you to people who would normally be out of one’s reach. This was the case for me and interior designers Nathan Turner and Mary McDonald.

Several Twitter exchanges and a couple of Instagram comments led to my meeting the stars of the show Million Dollar Decorators. It also gave me the opportunity to interview them for my Huffington Post column, which has been compiled into a book called Conversations: Up Close and Personal with Icons of Fashion, Interior Design, and Art. Nathan has been kind and generous enough to write the introduction to my book. And Mary and her glorious interiors have added a rich layer to Conversations.

Nathan and Mary are in Manila for the Philippine International Furniture Show (PIFS), ongoing until Monday, March 16, at the SMX Convention Center. At PIFS, they have been touring the exhibit and tagging their favorite items, and also gave a talk on the latest design trends and their design philosophies yesterday.

The exhibit is chaired by Christina Gaston while architect and interior designer J. Antonio Mendoza is creative director. The show is organized in partnership with Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc. (CFIF), the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP), and the Pampanga Furniture Industries of the Philippines (PFIP).

I welcomed Nathan and Mary on Thursday night through a private dinner I co-hosted with Town & Country Philippines magazine.

I first met them in person in California. I was in Los Angeles and I decided to drop by Nathan’s store on Melrose Avenue. And there he was in his handsomely curated store with his famous dog Nacho. Since then, every time I made a trip to Los Angeles I always made sure to drop by and say hello and grab a drink at a coffee shop a few stores down from his.

About a year ago, we both found ourselves in Singapore, both staying at the Four Seasons Hotel. I was there for Maison & Objet and he was on a layover to Jakarta where he was going to do a home installation.

I met Mary over afternoon drinks at the bar of the Four Seasons Beverly Hills. It was a couple of hours of hilarious banter and, dare I say, gossip. The kind you would expect from the show.

Though it is Nathan’s first time in the country, he is not altogether unfamiliar with our culture and our people. “I grew up in San Francisco, which has a huge Filipino community — so I’m very aware of the Filipino custom of warmth and hospitality.  I’m looking forward to making new friends and, of course, eating my way through the islands. The Philippines is a country I’ve always wanted to visit,” said Nathan when I asked what he is most excited about his visit to the Philippines.

 “I love to travel and experience different cultures and am looking forward to the food, culture and historic architecture,” chimed Mary. “I have always been fascinated by the Philippines and our schedules just happen to align perfectly with the amazing Philippine International Furniture show so we decided to take the plunge.”

To fans of the show and admirers of their work, Mary is a master when it comes to blending classical design elements with contemporary flourishes and helpings of chinoiserie. She is deft at combining patterns and mixing influences — painting geometric shapes on wood floors, adding unexpected trims on drapes and upholstery, layering color upon color. She does so with an assured and glamorous hand.

Nathan, on the other hand, has a more relaxed approach to décor. His Malibu beach lifestyle greatly influences his aesthetics. He has the ability to throw in expensive elements into a room without the pieces being too precious. He is also known for his savoir-faire at throwing parties.

You can view their incredible body of work in their tomes Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style and Nathan Turner’s American Style: Classic Design and Effortless Entertaining.

Asked about their new worldwide fame, Mary had this to say: “Being on a show in 22 countries around the globe really opens up the entire world to your brand and broadens your profile. I get calls for work and emails from fans from all over the place. Having a Rizzoli book and five different product lines available is a way to touch a lot of people as well and a show only helps.”

And this week, they get to meet their fans in the Philippines.

* * *

PIFS is ongoing until March 16 at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia. For more information, visit www.pifs.ph or email info@pifs.ph.

Conversations with Mary and Nathan

Author Blue Carreon gets into the lives of interior and fashion designers and artists in his book Conversations: Up Close and Personal with Icons of fashion, Interior Design, and Art, which started as a Q&A column for . 

Here, Blue shares his conversations with Mary and Nathan.

MARY MCDONALD

When I wake up. . .  I run to the coffee maker.

Before I go to bed. . .  I choose one lucky pug for the night.

A well-dressed woman/man . . . always owns a starched white shirt.

Women should always . . . smell nice.

Men should never  . . . wear short-sleeve dress shirts, and spitting is not great either.

The best thing’s that been said about me . . . is that I am a bitch. 

The biggest misconception about me. . . is that I am a bitch.

If I weren’t doing what I am doing today. . . I would be lying down.

My legacy . . . is the designs I leave behind.

A great idea. . . is only 10 percent of success.

Botox is . . . expensive.

My mother. . . was exactly like Melanie in Gone with the Wind in look and demeanor. I know, go figure.

The soundtrack of my life . . .  is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

The future . . . is full of endless possibilities.

Happiness. . . is my assistant, Kenna.

There is a time and place for. . . naughty antics.

There is too much . . . trashy behavior out there.

In the end. . . the people who truly love you are all that matters.

NATHAN TURNER

When I wake up . . . I take my dogs down to the beach.

Before I go to bed. . . I clear my head.

A well-dressed woman . . . should know when to edit.

Women should always. . . have a voice.

Men should never. . . brag.

The best thing that’s been said about me. . . is that I am kind.

The biggest misconception about me. . . is that I’m uptight.

If I weren’t doing what I’m doing today. . . I’d be a country western singer.

My legacy. . . is relaxed American style.

A great idea. . . is the sandwich, the taco, and the crepe. . . I love portable meals.

Botox is. . . fine in moderation, if it makes you feel good.

My mother. . . taught me to be charitable.

The future. . . is unknown. . . that’s what makes it so exciting.

Happiness . . . is a choice.

There is a time and place for . . . sarcasm.

There is too much . . . bad behavior on TV.

In the end. . .  the only things that matter are your friends and family.