living

Access all areas From Peaches Geldof to fashion wunderkind Alexander Wang, bloggerTodd Selby has friends in all kinds of places. And he’s persuaded each of them to open up their homes to be photographed. Grazia peeps through the keyhole…

Words rachel loos Photos The Selby Actress Krysten Ritter (left), Designer and founder of Craftwork star of Confessions Of A Caroline Smithson and artist husband Shopaholic, Los Angeles Fergadelic (below), London ‘She’s an old friend of mine and she moved ‘They’re a really cool, sweet couple,’ says Todd. out west for acting,’ says Todd. ‘The house ‘And I love their house which is in an old building is really amazing. I love that mid-century vibe that’s been sub-divided. It has that old manor vibe.’ and its laid-back style.’

Want to know where everyone’s going for interior design inspiration right now? It’s The Selby, the website of New Yorker Todd Selby (left), the photographer who gets the kind of access others only dream about. Among those who have opened their doors to him are the famously-private singer/songwriter Michael Stipe and Peaches Geldof. Up-and-coming actresses, hot new designers, big-name fashion editors, the blog’s cool-rating is sky-high. But what’s really brilliant about it is that it also features everyday stylish folk from all over all areas the world. Homes range from super-cool city lofts to girly one-bed flats, and it’s the sheer mix of different styles, budgets and people that makes this such a must-see site. Todd started The Selby just one year ago – today it gets 35,000 hits a day and the figure is growing all the time. Thanks to

Cool hotel owners Nicolas Malleville and Francesca Bonito (right), Mexico ‘He’s a really amazing guy that I’ve known for years,’ says Todd. ‘And now he’s moved to Mexico to do these beautiful homes and hotels. And Francesca is a great Italian! They’re definitely the beautiful people!’ the buzz it is generating, he was invited by is also on the site). ‘I like to leave my super-cool Paris store Colette to exhibit own place mysterious,’ he laughs. there. He is also about to launch the site in While some people suggest he come and Japanese and there’s a book in the pipeline. shoot their space, most of the time he So what’s the secret of his site’s success? chooses the owners. ‘I only pick people ‘It taps into human nature,’ says Todd. I find interesting,’ he says. ‘I’m pretty ‘People are nosey – everyone likes to see well-connected now – I feel like I have into other people’s houses. But also it’s a lot of friends.’ ■ authentic, not commercial. People are not Go to www.theselby.com to see more interiors there because they’re famous.They’re there because they are interesting – and I think people respond to that.’ Todd, 31, created the website as a personal project. He became a professional photographer after putting himself through night school eight years ago (he was working at Details magazine at the time). After a while he decided he wanted to do more than take photographs for other people. ‘I wanted to do something that really interested me,’ he says. ‘I liked the idea of the internet because it’s free and people from all around the world can take a look anytime and get involved with it.’ He started by shooting the house of ‘a friend of a friend’ and it went from there – today there are about 80 homes on the site – although not the one he shares with his girlfriend Danielle Sherman (friend of designer Alexander Wang, whose home

Stylist Elisa Nalin (above), Paris ‘Another old friend,’ says Todd. ‘Her place is so great. She’s obsessed with shoes! And she picks up all sorts of bohemian things at flea markets.’

Chef Sébastien Gaudard (left), Paris ‘I’m interested in chefs because I like to see how they perform what they do for a living when they are at home,’ says Todd. ‘And he has a really cute dog called Hot Dog.’

Design director at Abercrombie & Fitch, Michelle McCormick, and designer Tracy McCormick (right), Los Angeles ‘They’re friends of a friend and when I heard where they lived I really wanted to shoot it as Gaylord Apartments is one of my favourite buildings,’ says Todd. ‘And their apartment is great – they’re hard-core collectors and their stuff is amazing.’

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Musician Chase Cohl (below), Manhattan ‘She’s a real free spirit,’ says Todd. ‘It’s a piece of California in New York City!’

Designer and artist Natalie Wood (bottom), Sydney ‘She has a really cute little place on the beach,’ says Todd. ‘She’s got great personal style and I love the interesting things that she’s made and the amazing objects she collects.’