You would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the design world who is not familiar with Alexa Hampton. The interior designer honed her skills working with her late father – the iconic American decorator Mark Hampton – and eventually took over his design firm, Mark Hampton LLC, which she currently runs. While she may have been born into the business, her talent as an interior designer has not gone unnoticed; Over the past decade, she has been named one of the top 100 interior designers and decorators by New York Magazine, House Beautiful and Architectural Digest, which has included Hampton on it’s list every year since 2002 – not to mention that many of her projects have been featured on the magazine’s cover.

She has also designed collections for Kravet Fabrics, Hickory Chair, and Stark Carpet, to name a few. Most recently, Hampton was selected to be the interior designer for the Trowbridge House, the new official guest house for former presidents of the United States in Washington, D.C. Here, Hampton tells us about her prized possessions – her books – and about how they inspire her brilliant design work everyday.

What is your heirloom?  Tell us how you came to own this precious object. Was it something you grew up with? If so, did you appreciate it then as you do now?

My heirlooms are my books. I love them dearly. I love to read them, reread them and refer back to them. All kinds of books make me happy, including digital books. I come from a thoroughly bookish family, so I have always loved books. I hope to keep the tradition going with my own kids.

How do you live with your heirloom?  Is it somewhere you can enjoy it every day?

My books surround me at home and at work. After I read them, I use them as reference material. They are also a big part of the decoration of my apartment. They bring color and personality.

Who in your life has most influenced your personal style and taste?

Certainly, my family and my father, in particular. These days, my clients have a huge impact on me.

Fill in the blank: Whenever I look at _________, I can’t help but smile.

My children. Yum!

What’s the best part of your day? What makes it so special?

I usually wake up in bed with three uninvited guests – my sons (both 5 years old) and my daughter (3 years old) sandwiched between my husband and me. So mornings are among the best time of the day. At night, it’s story time, and that’s pretty special too.

What was the most memorable gift you’ve ever given or received?

Whenever my kids have a birthday or it’s Christmas, I like to joke that I gave them the gift of life, so I’m off the hook, but it’s just a joke, of course.

My favorite gift that I received – that is a thing – would be my engagement ring because it’s beautiful and it’s from my beloved husband.

What was your last purchase that you believe (or hope) will mean something to you 10 years from now? What makes it significant?

I bought myself 3 pretty rings, each inscribed with my children’s name in them. As long as my fingers stop growing (I have astonishingly big man hands), I hope to be wearing them 10 years from now.

And on the book front, I just bought the new [Robert] Massie biography of Catherine the Great. I love all his books.

A fashion industry veteran with a twenty year career, Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine Constance White has left her mark on nearly every major fashion publication, from Women’s Wear Daily and the New York Times, to Glamour and Elle, where she served as Executive Fashion Editor. Described by Essence President Michelle Ebanks as “A visionary and consummate communicator,” White has proven to be just that. Prior to her appointment as the Editor-in-Chief of Essence, she served as the style director, brand consultant and spokesperson for Ebay, where she was responsible for creating the company’s first online magazine. She is also the author of the ground-breaking book Stylenoir, described as “the first how-to fashion guide with black women in mind.” Here, she shares her heirloom with us, two inherited dessert dishes that were a wedding gift to her parents, who married in the 1950′s.

What is your heirloom?  Tell us how you came to own this precious object. Was it something you grew up with? If so, did you appreciate it then as you do now?

Two matching cut glass coral dessert dishes. I grew up with the bowls. They were part of a set that was brought out to use on special occasions. They were a wedding gift to my parents.

How do you live with your heirloom?  Is it in your home, office, or elsewhere? Which room? Is it somewhere you can enjoy it every day?

My heirloom is locked away in the highest reaches of my kitchen cabinets so no one can reach and break them.

Who in your life has most influenced your personal style and taste? 

My mother was a big influence. Diana Ross, Angela Davis and women on the street are an inspiration to me.

Fill in the blank: Whenever I look at _my kids_, I can’t help but smile. (Why?)  

They are a miracle of life right in front of my eyes. And sometimes they’re funny.

What’s the best part of your day? What makes it so special?

When I finish the day. I feel a sense of accomplishment. And it’s sometimes a period of peace and reflection.

What was the most memorable gift you’ve ever given or received? Why?

My wedding ring. But also experiences for my mom or my kids. I think you remember time together doing something, forever.

What was your last purchase that you believe (or hope) will mean something to you 10 years from now? What makes it significant?

It’s a carved wood head. I bought two – one man and one woman – and gave one to my Dad and the other to my then boyfriend – now husband. My husband still has his and whenever I look at it, it reminds me of our love and of my late Dad.

You would be hard pressed to find a person who has not heard the name Nate Berkus. Certainly his years as a contributor on Oprah didn’t hurt, but Nate Berkus has proved to be one of the most well known – and talented – interior designers in America all on his own. After founding the Interior Design firm Nate Berkus Associates at the age of 24, the self-taught designer grew the business into a well-established firm, gaining high-profile clients such as Barney’s NY, Wolfgang Pucks Spaggo, and W Hotels.

In 2002, he was invited to make over a space on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which led in turn to 127 makeovers on Oprah over the course of 8 years. While Oprah made him into a household name, he was also busy publishing his first book – Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live into a Place You’ll Love – in 2005, and launching a home product line for HSN in 2008. The most recent of his many accomplishments was the launch of his own daytime talk show, The Nate Berkus Show, which recently began airing its second season. Here, the master of design let us into his home, where he shared with us his most prized heirloom.

Tell us how you came to own this precious object.

The bowl I purchased years ago from my favorite antiques dealers, Pavillion in Chicago. The Native American carved stone fetish was a gift.

How do you live with your heirloom?

It sits on an English Regency table in my living room, with other meaningful things I have collected.

Who in your life has most influenced your personal style and taste?

My boyfriend who passed away in the Tsunami, Fernando Bengoechea, was among the most influential.

Fill in the blank: Whenever I look at a _ dog _ I can’t help but smile.

What’s the best part of your day?

Any moment that makes me laugh out loud. It’s usually fairly inappropriate.

Describe your ideal day.

Beach. No shoes. My boyfriend Carlos. Good novel. Thin crust pizza.

What is your favorite place to shop for antique/vintage pieces?

I shop everywhere from rural Minnesota towns to the Parisian auction houses.

What was the most memorable gift you’ve ever given or received?

A surprise trip to Capri.

What was your last purchase that you believe will mean something to you 10 years from now?

That is my rule of thumb for buying everything except clothing.

In our newest column, Living With What You Love, we explore the way various tastemakers live with the things that mean something to them. From antiques and works of art to books, jewelry and knick-knacks, the objects people live with often have a unique and meaningful story behind them.

For our first installment of this column, we explored the New York City apartment owned by DeBare Saunders and Ronald Mayne, two brilliant interior designers who own and operate New York interior design firm Stingray Hornsby. They have spent the past twenty years creating interiors for a high profile clientele that includes the Forbes family and the first Governer Cuomo. Their rooms have won numerous awards at show house’s around the Northeast, and have appeared on the covers of Architectural Digest, House & Garden, Design Time – Northeast, and The New York Times. Their impeccable eye for beautiful things is evident, as they share with us a few of the things they love to live with.

“A statue of my favorite girl and great grandmother Vivienne, by Prince Paul Troubetzkoy. A society beauty! Hanging over her is a portrait by Andre Derain – charming, but no relative.”

“Twin tables wearing shagreen, Parisien-born, and acccesorized with rock crystal, 19th century tortoise shell, and Venetian glass crowned by a Buccellati crab. Nothing like a good pair!”

“Our waterless aquarium, a most unique cabinet of curiosities. Art Deco with mermaids and waves integrated in the design. The Lorelei hold a giant lalique shell and are backed by mirror. Among the treasures are a potpourri of coral, shells, fossils from Morocco, an ancient Greek sculpture and a Chinese lobster, all playing on a glass wave above a library of art books.”

“Magic abounds Houdini’s chair, once used in his act. It now gives a special ‘whats it’ to our apartment, hanging on the rivers edge. It gives a warning to all who dare set on it, and lean against the spirited sea horse, that most anything could happen. Standing next to Houdini is one pair of Serge Roche Torcheres, monumentally tall and almost scraping the ceiling.”

“If you wait long enough you might just live with the Ernest Trova you have been desirious of since art school. He is chrome and beautifully articulated.”

“[This chair was] found in Paris, with the idea it would go to a client. But, love happened, and now the four chairs live with us. We liked our choice of upholstery so much, we double ordered the yardage, in case of a sloppy guest.”

“A huge tapestry by Brauer, woven by Beauvais in the 60′s. It once graced the walls in Ron’s family home, but looks much better in ours.”

“This English charmer by Lynn Chadwick resided in Ron’s family home in the 60′s. Was Jane Russell’s brassiere the inspiration? In any case, she lords over the living room with great female authority.”

“This is a surrealist painting by Dado, pale with Aubusson coloring. It is said to be his finest work by art historian Robert Witten…This fantasy was one of Ron’s early aquisitions and its beauty is an acquired taste. The sculpture is a Doris Ceasar sculpture with references to Giacometti. She is long and tall with that fashion stance we all embrace. She is also from Ron’s family collection.”

“A 1930′s Terra Cotta of Adonis. He smiles sheepishly at us from opposite our bed. He is framed by a blue daum vase and rock crystal bowl.”

“One of several terra cotta sculptures we love. This one is by a Picasso follower and resides on a bed side table, where his expression changes with your mood.”

*Portrait by Monica Rich Kosann. Other photos by MRKStyle Editors.

There are certain women who have not only paved the way for women in the beauty industry, but for women entrepreneurs as well. Trish McEvoy would be one of them. She founded her eponymous line of makeup products when she was twenty-five, subsequently turning it into a multi-million dollar company within five years. She has since become an icon and innovator in the industry, having launched one of the countries first medispas (The Dr.Ronald Sherman/Trish McEvoy Skin Care Center in New York) and creating the iconic Makeup Planner, a patented beauty organizer for the modern woman. Here, she takes a moment to tell us about her most prized heirloom: a beautiful pen given to her by her mother.

Rose Marie Bravo is a legend in the fashion industry. After serving as the president of Saks Fifth Avenue from 1992-1997, she became the Chief Executive Officer of Burberry, where she is best known for her radical transformation of the Burberry brand from its conservative British roots into one of the top luxury brands in the world. Her eight year reign at Burberry resulted in an increase of nearly 2 billion in sales, and – with her appointment of Christopher Bailey as Creative Director- cemented Burberry as the hip global brand it is today. As if that weren’t enough, she currently serves on the Board of Directors of Estee Lauder Companies, Tiffany & Co., and most recently William-Sonoma Inc.

We were thrilled when she sat down to share her heirloom with us: A beautiful blue and white pottery collection (which inspired Monica, who usually shoots in black and white, to shoot in color – a first for this column) that not only reflects her passion for collecting, but the flawless taste she is famous for.

Tell us how you came to own this precious object.

My Heirloom is my blue and white pottery collection consisting of everything from teacups to pots, bowls to pitchers and plates to serving pieces.

I came to own this collection from a few treasured pieces left to me by my mother-in-law, Mary Jackey. One in particular – a pitcher with a pastoral scene – gave me much pleasure, and the desire to begin collecting. Our almost 9 years living in England and visiting Scotland, home of my husband’s ancestors, facilitated greatly this search.

From visiting Bermondsey market in London, to trips to the Cotswolds and weekends in Dornoch, Scotland; I have vivid memories of each of “the finds.” I also treasure some of the fine pieces that were given to me by my husband Bill and the few friends and family that knew of my passion.

How do you live with your heirloom?

My collection primarily resides in a newly renovated kitchen that is – you guessed it – Blue and White. I take tea often using one of the several pots and heirloom teacups, especially with my 4 granddaughters Grace, Jade, Lily and Faith (This ceremony is another relic from merry old England).

Who in your life has most influenced your personal style and taste?

I have had many people that influenced my particular style and taste, but in the career development years I have never forgotten the taste and style exhibited by Mrs. Estee Lauder.  I was always amazed at how every detail of her personal presentation was exquisite and by the graciousness she exhibited to one and all. The discipline and attention to detail that went into every public occasion was extraordinary. And I loved her Blue and White Collection exhibited in the reception hall of her office!

Fill in the blank: Whenever I look at __________ I can’t help but smile.

Whenever I look at the teacups I smile. I think of the memories of “my girls” learning how to “pour tea.”

What’s the best part of your day?

The best part of the day for me is watching the sun go down. It makes me think of my Dad and how much he loved watching sunsets in his beloved Naples, Florida.

What was the most memorable gift you’ve ever given or received?

The most memorable gift I ever received was a diamond engagement ring that Bill gave me long after we were married, after years of me telling him I didn’t want one. Especially since he discovered the stone in an antique mans gold ring and had it specially mounted. Now it is never off my finger.

What family recipe do you look forward to making every holiday season?

The family recipe that I look forward to making every holiday season is a rendition of my mothers’s famous tomato and meatball sauce. The smells of the typical Italian ingredients bring back many fond memories of Mom cooking spaghetti sauce every Sunday morning after church.

What was your last purchase that you believe will mean something to you 10 years from now?

The most recent purchase that will hopefully mean something in 10 years is the new rose bushes that were recently added to the garden. As they grow they will serve as a reminder to “take time to smell the roses”.

John Demsey, the Group President of Estee Lauder Companies, has been an influential figure in the cosmetics business for over twenty years. Currently, he oversees the MAC, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, La Mer and Tom Ford brands – to name a few. A great part of his success comes from his amazing ability to transform a brand into a powerhouse while still remaining true to its heritage. Here, he tells us about an important part of his heritage: A mirror that belonged to his great grandmother, passed onto him from his grandfather.

Tell us how you came to own this precious object.

The mirror was the possession of my maternal fathers mother. My great grandmother brought it to the states from Russia after the first world war. It was in my grandfathers apartment when he passed 20 years ago and willed to me.

How do you live with your heirloom?

My heirloom mirror hangs over the fire place in my study with portraits of my daughter underneath.

Who in your life has most influenced your personal style and taste?

My mother, who is a fine painter, has had the greatest influence on my personal style.

Fill in the blank: Whenever I look at __________ I can’t help but smile.

My daughter, Marie Helene.

What’s the best part of your day?

Coffee in the morning reading the Post.

Describe your ideal day.

My ideal day is pool side with family and friends in Los Angeles.

What is your favorite place to shop for antique/vintage pieces?

1st Dibs.

What was the most memorable gift you’ve ever given or received?

A vintage Audemar watch from my dad on my 16th birthday.

What was your last purchase that you believe will mean something to you 10 years from now?

A Buccelatti silver monkey.

Though she barely looks old enough, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff is already a legend in the fashion world. The first-ever fashion director of Lincoln Center New York’s Fashion Week, Winston Wolkoff is also a veteran of Vogue where she worked as an Events Director for over a decade. Winston Wolkoff is also the granddaughter of Harry Winston and a mother of three. Today, this amazing woman shares her most precious possession with MRKStyle—listen in.

Tell us how you came to own this precious object.

For my 16th birthday, my mother gave me a diamond pave heart necklace. Not only was the simple heart a perfect example of timeless jewelry, but the necklace had been gifted to my mother by her mother, which makes it that much more important to me.

How do you live with your heirloom?

Whenever I wear my necklace, it’s my way of carrying a bit of my mom’s heart with mine. I like to think that it gives me a fraction of her wisdom and patience.

Who in your life has most influenced your personal style and taste?

My mother’s style is the paradigm of eternal elegance; it’s from her that I learned not to pile on trend after trend. Dress for your body type and your lifestyle and you’ll always look stylish. That faultless advice is what’s gotten me through almost 30 seasons at designer shows. I’ve been able to successfully avoid neon without regret because of her! I know how to incorporate what works and ignore what doesn’t and because of that she’s my daily inspiration.

Fill in the blank: Whenever I look at __________ I can’t help but smile.

My kids. Their creativity and kindness never cease to amaze me. The three of them really look out for each other, and, as a mom, there’s nothing more gratifying than seeing them running around together—three musketeers. I love that.

What’s the best part of your day?

I have an ambitious day-to-day schedule, so while family is always the top priority, my routine has a decidedly busy rhythm. Because of that, my favorite part of the day is those moments just before I put my kids to bed. School, work, sports, playtime—it all adds up to a lot of beautiful chaos. But just-before-bed togetherness is the one time of day that we all really get to enjoy each other.

What was the most memorable gift you’ve ever given or received?

My Bruce Winston wedding band definitely tops the memorable gift list. To have my father design the wedding band that was given to me by my husband was such a unique privilege. The ring itself is beautiful, but the meaning behind it makes it unforgettable.

What was your last purchase that you believe will mean something to you 10 years from now?

I’ve spent my entire professional career surrounded by breathtaking objects, so I’ve learned not only to appreciate the exquisite, but also to recognize the priceless quality of something that comes with a special meaning. For my 40th birthday, my amazing friends (you know who you are!) found me a pair of Marina B. vintage chokers that I already know I’ll treasure forever. Someday, my daughter, Alexi, will enjoy them, and passing them on to her will truly make them an heirloom.

Dreamy sapphires mixed with diamonds have a classic and regal look, proud yet mysterious, a combination worthy of an instant heirloom.

Lovers of vintage jewelry will agree there is no ring more suited to engagements and weddings than the ring that has been handed down. Antique pieces, even store bought, are undeniably beautiful. Perhaps most beautiful, however, is the piece that belonged to a mother, mother-in-law, or grandmother—which is why we appreciated the news that Prince William proposed to his fiance Kate Middleton using his mother Princess Diana’s engagement ring, a giant 18-carat sapphire encircled with diamonds.

Thankfully, you don’t need to be a princess to try the look yourself. These luscious rings come in a variety of settings, and there’s bound to be one that suits your lifestyle and aesthetic.

Photographs courtesy of Doyle & Doyle. From top: Old European platinum ring. Vintage Georgian bezel-cut sapphire ring.

Tell us how you came to own this precious object.
When I first opened Decades in 1997, a British couple came my way and had a mix of vintage clothing, including this men’s Gucci ostrich coat from the ’70s. It fit me, so naturally it became part of my personal collection.

How do you live with your heirloom?
Although I don’t wear this coat often, it hangs in my closet and therefore I see it every day.

Who in your life has most influenced your personal style and taste?
This is a tough question! I am influenced by people I have never had the honor of meeting like Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, Cary Grant, and Baron Alexis de Rede.

[Fill in the blank] Whenever I look at_________, I can’t help but smile.
My parents.

What’s the best part of your day?
I love interacting with clients at Decades. I feel like the Style Concierge of Los Angeles and with so many international clients, it’s fun to share insights into my hometown.

What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received?
For someone who loves luxury, my favorite gift is quite simple: having a loved one prepare a home-cooked meal.