I first met designer Barry Dixon a number of years ago (let's just say I was a green junior editor and he was one of the talented designers the magazine selected for an annual feature we used to do called "Four Under Forty"). We became fast friends and in the time since it has been a treat to watch his star rise to the very top. Not only does this Memphis native decorate fabulous houses all over the globe, he also recently published his first book, he designs collections for Tomlinson and Megerian, and he's working on an upcoming fabric line for Vervain.
Barry Dixon (left), Michael Schmidt, and their terrier, Ellie, at home in Warrenton, Virginia. Photo by Tria Giovan
He also happens to be one of my favorite people in the world. Being on a photo shoot with Barry is like having a play date with a friend. He brings a wicked sense of humor, an unending knowledge of trivia, and a ridiculous ability to remember the lyrics to any song. Our shared love of music–particularly theme songs from the television shows of our childhoods and our true specialty, the '70s–means we have been known to play endless games of "Name that Tune" into the wee hours of the morning whenever we're together.
Barry and his partner, Michael Schmidt, are also master hosts who throw fabulous parties at Elway Hall, their home in Warrenton, Virginia. My own meager entertaining efforts can hardly compare with their eagerly anticipated soirees, such as a Christmas party for hundreds, complete with 16 decorated trees, or the Halloween bash for friends' children, when they transform the house and grounds into "Hellway Hall." But when I was recently planning the details for a small dinner party, I knew just who to call for advice on creating a music playlist that would strike the right tone for the evening. Barry was totally game and rattled off a pitch-perfect list (and not a disco song or sitcom tune among them). "I always return to songs written in the '30s and '40s," he says. "The lyrics of Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin are absolutely classic. Like great design and good friendships, they only improve with time."Barry agreed to let me share his dinner party mix with our gracious readers, so to download the playlist or individual songs, go here. And special thanks and Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, who already has all these songs in her enormous music collection and made my dinner party CDs right away (she outranks Barry a bit as my very favorite person in the world). She loves the old songs as much as he does–I have no doubt they'd get along famously!
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