Our Press Page

Through the Lens of Georgina Preston: A Study of Hunt Country

By: Connor Duszynski for The House Magazine

"A master of her craft, watching Georgina Preston on set is a sight to behold. Never afraid to try news angles, pose her subjects, and spend extra time getting the perfect shot, Georgina knows just how to capture and share her point of view through her photography. Nearly a year in the making, Georgina’s trip to Virginia’s Hunt Country was the result of strategic digital marketing, the cultivation of a working relationship with her American partners and contemporaries, and the shared love of the equestrian lifestyle. I first became acquainted with Georgina’s work after my Richmond-based client Hart Equestrian reshared a series of her equestrian portraits on our account in late 2020. Clicking on her profile, I was immediately thrown into her world. What initially stood out most to me about Georgina’s work was her ability to create a feeling of nostalgia and intensity through her darker, moody portraits. A compliment I would never give out lightly, Georgina’s work is reminiscent of that of Annie Leibovitz. Seemingly pulled from the pages of Vanity Fair or Town & Country, Georgina’s aesthetic is fully-realized, unapologetic, and captures the essence of her subjects. Her work is raw and her ability to truly see her subjects at their core is rare.

Staying in Middleburg, Virginia, Georgina’s month-long trip to Hunt Country was occupied with almost daily foxhunts, a cover shoot for a local publication, an abundance of portrait and equestrian portrait sessions with locals and travelers (many even traveling from out-of-state to be photographed by her), and capturing the beloved Fall International Gold Cup, the largest steeplechase in the Commonwealth, held annually at the Great Meadow Foundation in The Plains, Virginia. While these equestrian events and the fox-hunters’ way of life has been captured by many local photographers, Georgina’s fresh take showcased a more intimate and personal (yet still very editorial) side of the local equestrian scene. Choosing to focus more on the candid moments between racegoers, exploring the relationship between huntsman and hound, and showcasing the love a rider has for her horse, Georgina’s Hunt Country works proved yet again that she is a master of capturing the thought-provoking, emotional, and vulnerable side of her subjects."

View Georgina's study here.

The Man of the Hour: Jason Reynolds

By: Nina Haaskivi for The House Magazine

"As a journalist, I have to admit it was hard to play it cool when faced with the prospect of interviewing Jason Reynolds. A writer of his caliber, arguably the voice of a generation, who am I to tell even part of his story? New York Times best-selling author, National Book Award Finalist, and NAACP Image Award winner are only a few of the titles of which he can boast. But sitting down to speak with Jason was surprisingly easy; simultaneously like talking to an old friend and watching an elite athlete perform the most difficult feats with a grace and ease found only in the mastery of one’s craft. And Jason’s craft is words, in all forms. Hearing him speak was like listening to a yet unwritten poem. The meter and rhythm to his words, deliberately chosen, as an artist chooses a paint color, carried our conversation to topics I could not have foreseen; topics that we as a society must tackle, though they are heavy. Issues that we cannot solve until we have put language to them. Not only is Jason unafraid to look at the difficult parts of life and society, but he is also brave enough to admit that he does not have a solution to these problems, other than continuing his work. 

Throughout history, we have looked to the great thinkers of our time in order to solve these problems, but Jason, instead of solving these problems for us, sheds light on problems we did not know previously existed, gives voice to those who previously felt voiceless, and meets us where we are at to solve these problems together. As he says, 'I hear you, you’re not a voiceless person. There’s no such thing as a voiceless child.' Every one of us has a story to tell, and Jason’s profound ability to put words to not only his own story, but also the story of those around him, and to push them to new limits simply by expressing himself, is unlike any I’ve seen before."

Read more here.

An Eye for Style: Introducing Connor Duszynski, A Marketing Master and Fashion Director at The House Magazine

By: Connor Duszynski for The House Magazine

"Connor Duszynski is the President & CEO of Cardinal Marketing & Design, LLC, a marketing agency he started just a few short months ago upon completing his studies at George Mason University last May, all at the age of just twenty-two years old. 

'People always ask how and when I knew I wanted to start my own agency, or if I had any reservations about trying to grow my own business so young. Honestly, I didn’t. I was and am at a place in my life where I believe in going all-in. Business owners and entrepreneurs don’t have the luxury of being just ‘half-in’ when you’re trying to make a living, support and represent your clients, and grow your brand,' says Connor. 

Just six months after forming Cardinal, the agency now consists of clients from Wall Street Journal bestselling authors to renowned equestrian and commercial photographers, tech companies, nonprofits, independent retailers, rising polo stars, artists, and interior designers throughout the United States. 

When asked where he gets the inspiration for his entrepreneurial spirit, Connor answered that his parents have always played that role for him."

Read more here.

Hunt Country Artist, Lydia Schrader Reflects On Her Journey As An Artist

By: Connor Duszynski for The House Magazine

"Providing inspiration to everyone around her, even in the most unpleasant times, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Palm Beach-based artist Lydia Schrader to discuss her own sources of inspiration, artistic journey, and plans for her fine art business Lydia Marie Elizabeth in the new year. I was drawn to Lydia’s works several years ago, seeing her watercolor paintings of Hunt Country scenes pop up on my social media feed time after time, beckoning me to learn more. Immediately drawn into her world, I had the pleasure of working with Lydia on several projects for local clients, including two watercolor maps of the greater Virginia Piedmont region. From our initial correspondence, I quickly learned that Lydia radiates love. Her positivity and caring demeanor is infectious, and I’m fortunate to consider her a personal friend."

Read my interview with Lydia here.

An Inside Perspective: Nadia Rossi Talks Handmade Tile and Bringing Old World Charm Into Modern Spaces

By: Nadia Rossi for The House Magazine

"I recently completed my modern country kitchen renovation with a touch of English style charm. I am completely over the moon with the results and obsessed with how it turned out. As anyone who has ever renovated an old house knows, you can look forward too many challenges. First, you will likely deal with structural changes if you reconfigure and open the space, then unforeseeable repairs, long backorder delays due to COVID and surprises I can’t tell you about or they wouldn’t be surprises.

I want to take a moment to visit the backsplash selection process. I was on a mission to recreate a look from the past with an organic, earthy feel with lots of movement and texture to flow with the house. Selecting cabinetry finish and countertops was a breeze, but pulling the whole look together is truly an art. My biggest challenge was complementing the bold countertop, an earthy honed Italian Blue soapstone. I wanted the perfect “imperfect” tile.  After many considerations, I decided to go with a handmade tile. The search for the right handmade tile and where to source it was completely worth the effort."

Read the full article here.

Planning Your Next Barn Get Together 

By: Connor Duszynski for American Stalls

"There’s no doubt that the equestrian world is bursting at the seams; with more equestrians embracing the sport than ever before, and equestrian enthusiasts enjoying all that this unique culture has to offer, we’ve noticed the general public’s interest in all-things-equine is piquing, particularly following this past summer’s events calendar. Kicking off the 2021 summer polo season, our American Stalls team had the pleasure of sponsoring Virginia United Polo’s All-Pro Polo Match, featuring the talents of Nacho Figueras, Kareem Rosser, and countless other high-goal polo pros. In celebration of the program, we joined the League’s other generous sponsors at the Salamander Resort & Spa’s barn in the heart of Virginia’s Horse & Hunt Country.

Donning our finest, we chatted our way through the barn, catching up with our friends as we stopped to pose with the pros at various points throughout the evening. As we followed the bistro lights lining the stables, stopping only for brief photo-ops and champagne intermissions, we began to wonder why this kind of experience wasn’t more common. We were enjoying ourselves so much that we were wishing all our parties could be hosted in such gorgeous barns!

Read more here.

An Interview With Avery Konrad

By: Connor Duszynski for The House Magazine

"Avery Konrad exists in multitudes. Her impressive work in film and television, coupled with her background and love of dance certifies Avery as one to watch amongst the ever-shifting and changing Hollywood landscape. Avery most recently appeared in the science fiction-horror television series FROM, which premiered on Epix in February of 2022. Portraying the role of Sara Myers, Avery transformed herself into a complicated, multifaceted, and haunted character. Our Fashion Director Connor Duszynski sat down with the Vancouver-based actress and dancer to discuss her rising starpower, her thoughts on the success of From, her roots, and upcoming projects to keep an eye out for."

Read the full interview with Avery Konrad here.

An Artful Perspective

By: Connor Duszynski for The House Magazine

"Drawing from his own personal life, memories, and experiences, Andrew Arthur’s works are all about communication. Utilizing shape-based writing systems like Braille, Morse code, and Cuneiform to create composition, Arthur wants his viewers to 'experience the paradigm shift once they are aware that the abstract shapes and colors have exact meaning.' I sat down with Arthur to discuss the viewers’ experience and his time as a professional painter. Upon graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Arthur began showcasing his works in countless galleries and exhibitions around the world. With no sign of slowing down, Arthur also shared the inspirations behind some of his latest works, as well as a few hints at his life’s next chapter."

Read my full interview with Andrew here.