"So many memories are connected to being outdoors," Roman says. At his behest this was transformed after-hours by Linda Fargo into a softly lit bower, echoing to birdsong and filled with ornamental lovebirds and white peacocks, orchids, chandeliers, and silvered Venetian grotto furniture (some of which has made its way into their airy dining room). Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, At Home With: Designer Isabel Lpez-Quesada, Madrid, At Home With: Stylist Colin King, Tribeca, At Home With: Derkan & John, the Gooi, Netherlands. Three years later, Traina sold CompareNet to Microsoft for a reported $100 million. Traina, 50, is the son of Dede Wilsey, longtime president of the board of trustees of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. "It was too good to be true," he remembers. He is a general assignment reporter with a focus on writing feature-length obituaries. confetti, party hats, miniature American flags and a collection of tap-dancing shoes for after-dinner amusement. It goes with absolutely everything and brings me endless joy." I wondered if wed live near Lorenzo Lamas. I've spent my entire life as a connector of people," Trevor Traina says in his cozy San Francisco den. Along with Britt, Ann Getty worked with the Trainas to realize their specific vision. The Trainas also looked to some iconic tastemaking neighbors for inspiration. [16] That afternoon, he canceled his Virgin America flight home in favor of hitching a ride on a friend's private jet. The following night, Alexis Swanson Traina hosted her husband and friends at a swinging soiree where designer Ken Fulk executed her whimsical, "American Graffiti" vision, reimagining Wilsey. Katie has a passion for travel and all things beautiful. We spend our weekends tinkering with old cars. Here, time slows down, and things like cars, wine and friendships evolve and improve with age. "That was a pretty serious acquisition, but it would probably go for a lot more than that now," he notes. Photo: Photographed by Drew Alter. This story appears in the November 2017 issue of Town & Country. Alexis Trainas ode to Napa Valley, which appears in the November issue of Town & Country, went to the printers before the devastating fires broke out in California earlier this month. The silver-haired free spirit is known for amassing one of the most legendary prop closets in the valley, filled with trinkets and tchotchkes to. Alexis Swanson Traina, the San Francisco-based author and renowned authority on wine, style, and entertaining, celebrates the launch of her new book, From Napa With Love. I asked them to tell their Napa Valley stories and to describe the places, things, and experiences they love about the valley. She chronicled it all in a blog, Alexis' Napa for the Curious and Eccentric. So with $300,000 in funding from friends and family (and receiving a credit from Haas for writing up the business plan), Traina hired a small team of programmers, moved them into the upstairs nursery of his father's house and launched CompareNet. The latest fashion news, beauty coverage, celebrity style, fashion week updates, culture reviews, and videos on Vogue.com. Elizabeths favorite place to entertain is a 1904 utility barn on her property, which she describes as Marie Antoinettes poor sisters ballroom, complete with a special perfume thanks to the henhouse thats attached to it. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. "Most of the luminaries are doing this for charity, so most, if not all, of their part is usually donated," Traina explains. "I had a dirt bike and loved exploring the mountainside on it." Since 2005, C Magazine has been the leading luxury and lifestyle magazine, website, and e-commerce platform on the West Coast. The ceremony took a half-hour, according to Daniel S. Mattern, public affairs official with the American embassy. Trevor also applauds his wife's passion for "grandmother chic." Alicia Engstrom and Heather Pegg. Raise a glass to the artists, rebels, and dreamers who call this storied California paradise home. "She married a man with 300 photographs!" Expansive views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz compete with Traina's remarkable 300-piece photography collection--including works by Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Cindy Sherman and Andreas Gursky. Her high-society family pioneered the frozen. Theres an appreciation for simple pleasures, like swimming at sunset, water-balloon fights, cookie baking and bike rides. "Our tennis person used to do all the tennis sponsorship for Reebok. Since then, the Trainas have made plenty of their own memories at the estate. My mother-in-law, here with my daughter Delphina, is known for philanthropy, her collectors eye, and, in Napa Valley, her vineyards in Rutherford surrounded by gardens and a miniature train station. And the rest was history.. Do you have info to share with HuffPost reporters? Swanson Traina, the creative director of Swanson Vineyards, a sprawling estate known for . After Swanson Vineyards was sold in 2016, Traina continued to pursue her connection to the winery world, publishing her lifestyle guide From Napa With Love, which features coveted insight into. This was not the first time a Traina had dynamited the hills in this region. The wife and mother of two also runs a carefully curated Crabb. " Alexis Traina, .css-1fgik18{color:#323232;display:block;font-family:NewParis,NewParis-fallback,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;-webkit-font-smoothing:auto;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1fgik18:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1fgik18{font-size:1.3125rem;line-height:1.2;}}Shop Our Favorite Saks Friends & Family Deals, Stylish Denim Jackets for the Transitional Season, Stylish Fisherman Sandals to Wear This Season, Heres Where to Get Taylors Single Era Heels, A Cult-Status Bag That Lives Up to Its Hype. So much of HiNote is about self expression in technicolor, and its the idea of being able to tell your story digitally.. If you purchase an Italian wine apprenticeship with master sommelier David Lynch ($3,200), the box will be lined with corks. Christopher Kostow, seen herewith his wife Martina and their two daughters, grew up near Chicago in a food-forward family that, he says, traveled to eat. After working in some of the best kitchens in the world, he opened the Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, which has been awarded three Michelin stars. The airy dining room overlooking the garden is balanced by two custom-made banquettes, Venetian grotto furniture and a proud pair of peacocks. Thats the story.. Heres how. Below, shop a few of the items that the talented multi-hyphenate will be bringing along with her on her summer adventures. Alexis Traina and Elena McAllister . How many times has Trevor Traina been married? The enormity of the renovation might have defeated some newlyweds. "My father collected Faberg jewelry and vintage cars. "Trevor has vision that I don't," says Alexis. Just about the only member of Traina's clan who seemed to have escaped the blessings of providence was President James Buchanan, who had the misfortune of being followed in the White House by Abraham Lincoln. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. "On her watch we were really able to discover our styles and blend them," says Alexis. We keep the valleys mechanics quite busy, Trevor admits. Below the house is something almost as dramatic: a 3,000-square-foot basement blasted out of solid granite to display the photography collection away from sunlight. He is every bit as knowledgeable about the decorative and decorating arts. Is this socializing, is it business? When did Trevor Traina get divorced? I wanted to tell a new story about Napa Valley, one that illuminated the talent, spirit, and creativity that enriches our kitchen tables, wine cellars, homes, closets, book shelves, and celebrations. They immediately filled it with young children, good art, and a round-the-clock point of view. Theres so much growth in being able to explore new creative endeavors, and thats what I think is so fascinating about life, says Alexis Traina. The odyssey even involved an overnight stay in Pyongyang as a guest of the late Kim Jong Il, who, among other things, was a car aficionado. Traina has his own Napa vineyard, "but if you want to be friends with your wife," he explains, "you drink her wine. Parker Thatch always makes the best summer totes loaded with personality and charm." site IfOnly, and their two children, Johnny and Delphina, lead in the valley. The dining-room table belonged to my great-grandmother, as did the sideboard next to it, and [the nearby] secretary belonged to my mother., Though theres no denying his familys pedigree, Trevor cant help but make fun of some of the houses inherited features: It reminds me of that great comment by Marella Agnellimade after the socialite toured Sid and Mercedes Bass apartment in New Yorkwhen she said, It will take her another lifetime to understand wicker! Theres nothing more WASP-y than lattice and wicker. Those who can't find their dream experience in Traina's impressive lineup can fill out a "wish list." ", His first Big Idea came in the mid-'90s, when he tried to buy a cordless telephone. King, Martin Luther King Jr. and Jean-Michel Basquiat on his rsum, the "Chevalier" star is on track to become movie royalty More, Get a high-tech upgrade with innovative televisions, vacuums, purifiers and LED face masks More, Interior designer Sergio Mercado worked with a Palm Beach family to create a serene oasis in the sky More, The luxury lifestyle brand opens its first guest house retreat in the Meatpacking District More, The dream team of interior designer Ken Fulk and Major Food Group brought the Italian restaurant to Dallas, More, Celebrate French haute couture and the iconic LV artisans with these coffee table books More, The James F.D. Traina made headlines for his collecting in 2004, when he bought an original print of the iconic Diane Arbus photo "Identical Twins" for $600,000. For Traina, it's the sweet spot of a career spent nurturing relationships with talented people. This website is a curation of past articles. "Alexis has been so patient with me," says Trevor. As my temporary unemployment began, I knew I wanted to use my free time to tell the story of the valley, and to do it in a way that would illuminate the fact that life here is no longer centered exclusively on wine. Inside the Home of San Francisco's Most High-Profile Couple For tech entrepreneur Trevor Traina and his wife Alexis Swanson Traina, a historic Napa Valley home is an ideal respite from city life Written by David Nash Photographed by Douglas Friedman View the gallery Alexis Traina, creative director at Swanson Vineyards, is one busy person.