saturdays at 7 pm beginning april 5 encore presentations sundays at 1 pm

Moment of Luxury, public television’s new weekly lifestyle series, conceived and hosted by award-winning international designer Bill Stubbs, makes the experience of “luxury” — excellence, comfort and exclusivity — accessible to Americans on any budget.  Filmed in high definition from beautiful locations in the U.S. and around the world, Stubbs offers viewers tips on how to bring good, yet affordable, living into their homes and daily lives through home design, food, culture and art.  One of Architectural Digest’s top 100 designers, Stubbs shares his knowledge and philosophy in 13 half-hour episodes, presented nationally by WLIW New York.  The engaging and informative series premieres nationwide April 2008 on public television (check local listings).

Moment of Luxury invites viewers to join Stubbs as he travels to exotic locales in search of design inspiration — from English palaces to Newport and Palm Beach mansions; from French flea markets to New York City showrooms; from Mexican haciendas to Incan ruins. Along his journey, Stubbs visits with some of the world’s top authorities on design including President and featured designer of Mark Hampton, LLC. Alexa Hampton, Antiques Roadshow expert Eric Knowles, and Architectural Digest Editor-in-Chief Paige Rense.  In each episode, Stubbs explores a different city, gaining inspiration from the design, culture, history and food of each area.  Then, he demonstrates how to apply these inspirations at home to experience a transformative “moment of luxury.”

Sharing his creative vision on entertaining, design and enjoying life to its fullest, Stubbs proves that luxurious moments can be experienced by all viewers, no matter how lavish or modest their budget.“As an interior designer, I have created and experienced luxury all over the world,” comments Stubbs.  “But luxury does not have to be a fabulous home or an expensive piece of jewelry…it can be an embroidered pillow or a simple cup of tea. With Moment of Luxury, I am thrilled to be able to share with public television audiences the places, things and people who inspire me the most…and the tools to apply these secrets for luxurious living in their own lives.”

One of the “AD 100,” Architectural Digest’s list of the World’s Top Designers and Architects, Stubbs is president of William W. Stubbs and Associates, a 25-year-old international interior design firm, whose recent projects have taken him around the world to Kiev, Moscow, London, Hawaii, Acapulco, Palm Beach and Houston.  His award-winning designs include renovations of historical buildings, private homes and estates, vacation retreats, commercial multi-family properties, community housing projects for the elderly and, most recently, the interior design of a large corporate jet. A popular lecturer, Stubbs is the author of two books: I Hate Red, You’re Fired! The Colorful Life of an Interior Designer (Abrams, 2004) and Moment of Luxury: Discovering the Beauty Around You (Gibbs Smith), which will be published Fall 2008.

season one episode guide

"Parisian Luxury Back Home"
Paris, France − Bill Stubbs checks into the former grand Parisian home that is now the Saint James Hotel, and explores the little-known Maison Baccarat Museum and the largest flea market in the world, the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Quen, where he finds an endless array of inspirations to apply throughout his Houston townhouse.  After bathroom and kitchen renovations, Bill shows viewers how to enjoy their own “taste of Paris” at home with a simple dessert.

"A Day in the Country: From Old England to New England"
Chesham, England/Perryville, Rhode Island − Bill takes us from Old England to New England.  He visits the 1790 home/antique shop and cottage garden of his friend in the charming village of Chesham in Buckinghamshire, England.  Bill also learns more about his favorite blue and white china from Antiques Roadshow expert, Eric Knowles.  He celebrates New England style — from sizzling jonnycakes to classic cars — at the 17th century Perry homestead in Perryville, RI, which houses a magical Japanese garden where we have a quiet moment of luxury.

"Modern Classics: Texas-style Luxuries"
Houston, Texas − Bill gives a personal tour of his beloved hometown, Houston, illustrating the Texas-style luxury of its theatres and classic neighborhoods.  Plus, a peak at one of Bill’s “works in progress,” a total home renovation for a modern Texas family with New England roots.  Finally, Bill welcomes his daughter Courtney home to help her select her wedding dress.

"The Latin Tradition of Handmade Luxury"
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico − Bill travels to the heart of Mexico, San Miguel de Allende, founded in 1565. The colonial city’s cathedrals, haciendas, cobblestone streets and open-air markets are the backdrop for traditional artisans of all kinds.  Bill visits a friend back in Houston who has incorporated wonderful artifacts from San Miguel into her home, and explains how to integrate travel discoveries into daily life.

"Secrets and Sources of an Interior Designer"
New York, New York − For many people New York City is all about grand scale, but for a designer, the city is about the details.  Bill visits his favorite architectural salvage emporium and an old world linen shop that specializes in custom embroidery.  He meets renowned fellow designer Alexa Hampton, president and featured designer of Mark Hampton LLC, who shares her secret source for exquisite craftsmanship in draperies and upholstery.

"Behind the Scenes at a Designer Showroom"
Dania, Florida − Bill goes behind-the-scenes at the Design Center of America (DCOTA) for the Winter Market, an event that brings together both aspiring and established designers.  Offering an exclusive look inside the showrooms, Bill shows how to create an elegant space using simple and accessible materials.  Next, Bill encourages an undiscovered talent waiting in line at Architectural Digest’s Designer Open Audition and interviews the premier authority on design, Architectural Digest’s eminent editor-in-chief, Paige Rense.

"Living with History"
Blenheim Palace, England − Lady Henrietta Spencer Churchill, the daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, gives Bill a private tour of her ancestral home, Blenheim Palace, one of the most famous in England and a Baroque masterpiece.  Bill admires the portrait gallery and the magnificent tapestries adorning the palace walls, which inspired him to create his own interpretations for his Houston home.

"America's Castles: The First Gilded Age"
Newport, Rhode Island − Bill visits the grand Newport summer cottages of the Vanderbilt family and other magnates of the Gilded Age, an era of extreme wealth and extravagance. Bill and his friend, renowned party planner Bryan Rafanelli, transform an ordinary living room into a luxurious space for dining and entertaining inspired by the Gilded Age.

"Northwest Style: Fresh and Natural"
Seattle and Washington Wine Country − Whether it’s seafood, coffee, architecture or design, Seattle, where the high mountains meet Puget Sound, is all about a fresh approach.  Bill tastes some local specialties at Pike Place Market, one of the oldest farmers’ markets in the U.S., and gathers some fresh ingredients to inspire the chef at Chateau Ste. Michelle winery.  There, Bill discovers the art of pairing wine with different food.  He also visits a stunning, modern eco-friendly house overlooking Lake Washington.

"Palm Beach Classic"
Palm Beach, Florida − Bill traces the elegant resort town’s history, from the early 1900s when American tycoon and Florida East Coast Railway founder Henry Flagler extended his railroad to the area, putting Palm Beach on the map.  Bill also explores the city’s lifestyle, highlighting the way its natural beauty influences Palm Beach design, from Whitehall – Flagler’s Estate – and other mansions to the Brazilian Court Hotel and the grounds of the American Orchid Society.

"Modern Meets Incan"
Lima, Peru − Bill visits Lima’s magnificent historic sites and discovers the lasting influence of the Incas on modern day Peru.  Peruvian contemporary artisans and designers honor their Incan and pre-Columbian roots in creating some of the world’s most fascinating art, textiles, jewelry, modern architecture and food.

"Western Life"
Houston, Texas - Bill saddles up and hits the Salt Grass Trail, where old Texas traditions meet modern luxury, on his way to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the world’s largest rodeo, held every year in Bill’s hometown. Then, Bill gets fitted for a perfectly “sculpted” cowboy hat and demonstrates how to easily integrate equestrian and western elements into home décor.

"Celebrations"
New York, New York - It’s time to celebrate!  Bill creates a dramatic table setting from scratch for a major New York City benefit. Next, a furniture shopping trip with his daughter Courtney—with her wedding fast approaching it’s time to start decorating that newlywed apartment. The episode concludes with a celebration of the marvelous people and places that have inspired Bill this season on Moment of Luxury.

A Production of Moment of Luxury LLC in association with WLIW New York. Executive Producer: William Stubbs. Co-Executive Producers: Lawrence Scott, Sarah Frank, Sarah Greer and Eve Krzyzanowski. Presented nationally by WLIW New York. ST and CC.