Hotelier and designer Liz Lambert talks about taste

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My personal style signifier it’s my daily uniform of indigo and black T-shirts from Filth Mart and Velva Sheen, a pair of jeans and roper boots made to order by Ranch Road. They’re comfortable, sturdy, and I love the backstory of the creator, Sarah Ford, an ex-Marine who did three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before going to Harvard Business School and launching this oh-so-Texan brand. My friend Jenna Lyons has told me that she dresses me as equal parts West Texas rancher and Japanese man, that perfectly sums up my aesthetic.

The last thing I bought and I loved it. It was a sculpture by the Haas brothers that is made of carved marble and blown glass. He is currently part of a program called snails in comparison at the Lora Reynolds Gallery here in Austin, and we’re waiting for the show to finish so we can deliver it. I love the mix of materials and the vibrant colors. lorareynolds.com

The place that means a lot to me it’s West Texas, specifically, our family’s ranch, where the Davis Mountains meet the Chinati Mountains. It feels unlike anywhere else on earth – the opening of the earth, the dark night sky and the bright stars – you can see the Milky Way. I call West Texas a “thin place” because heaven and earth are so close.

The best souvenirs I have brought home. They are concert setlists. I have Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Plant and St Vincent. One I don’t have is Willie Nelson’s, I just went to see him at the Hollywood Bowl.

A place I have visited that has stayed with me It’s the Amalfi Coast, which is like Fellini meets the familiar and is simply stunning. we stay in Saint Peter in Positano and took the lift down through the cliff to the beach area below – spectacular!

The best book I have read in the last year. It’s from Adrienne Rich The dream of a common language. It was wonderful to come back to this after so many years studying poetry and creative writing in college. Since I recently moved house, all these wonderful books have reappeared (Frank O’Hara, Charles Bukowski) and often in multiples, which I think means I’m destined to give them away to my friends.

my style icon It’s Kris Kristofferson. It’s all 70s cowboy meets musician and actor vibe. His arrogance, loose hair and conch belt are just a pure sex symbol. Think about A star has been born, Convoy either semi-hard.

An indulgence I would never give up It’s room service. It could be at Claridge’s in London or the mermaid on the Amalfi Coast or in a hotel pretty much anywhere. I can judge a hotel by its fruit plate.

The best gift I’ve ever given. It’s a gold signet ring with an old diamond cut from a mine, for my wife. We exchanged simple gold rings when we got married, but I knew she wanted something with more pop. I found this ring in Duvenay while scrolling through Instagram.

And the best gift I’ve ever received. it’s a ducati Scrambler motorcycle, next to the Christmas tree, complete with a big red bow. It was originally gold, but I had it painted blue with a white stripe and a little white dove on the gas tank. Normally I’m more into vintage motorcycles, but this one is spectacular.

The last music I downloaded it was “Yesterday’s News” by Robert Ellis. He is an absolutely masterful guitarist from Fort Worth, Texas with a beautiful voice that blends elements of folk and jazz, sort of like Chet Baker.

I have collections of rocks, fossils and seashells; slate, stone and agate tables inlaid with brass; ceramics; rings I could go on. I’m a Virgo and very edited in most areas of my life, but collecting is a passion.

In my fridge you will always find psilocybin chocolates, fresh berries and white wines from Scribe in Sonoma. We also keep biodynamic wines from Austin’s The Meteor. scribewinery.com; @meteoraustin

The podcasts I’m listening to include “99% Invisible”, which is about the architecture and design that surrounds us. I always learn something from “Death, Sex & Money,” an NPR production on topics ranging from facing your fears to infidelity to celebrity interviews. “Feature Articles” and “Hidden Brain” are two others I find fascinating because they dive into a lot of random topics. I spend so much time traveling that I am always listening to a podcast.

I have recently discovered 3D printing, by Icon, pioneering new forms of construction, and working with Bjarke Ingels Group on our El Cosmico project in Marfa. I am learning about the technology and sustainability behind 3D printing and how this raw earth construction technique is much more efficient.

What I couldn’t do without they’re my Caddis reading glasses. I have all kinds of frames, from aviator style to matte sunglasses. It is the happiest brand. caddislife.com

In another life I would have been a madam in some bar

The last item I added to my wardrobe it was a black three-quarter calf hair leather coat from Savas in Nashville. I went in to buy a leather jacket for a friend and came out wearing this coat too. Local designer Savannah Yarborough trained in Central Saint Martins before starting her own leather boot and clothing business; she tailors the jackets personally. ateliersavas.com

An object that I would never part with. It’s a bronze sculpture made by my brother, Lyndon, when he was in high school. He died many years ago and recently my four year old son, also named Lyndon, pointed out that this figure is actually one of Maurice Sendak’s supporting characters. Where the monsters live. I have always loved it and it has a very special meaning for me, and now for our son.

I never travel without the pre-packaged Dopp Kit -with technical things like cables, chargers, adapters, lip balm- from my brand Far West; and a Far West shoulder bag in saddle leather. I also love my black Louis Vuitton roller. [case] with gray accents and my double L monogram on the side. Wild West Dopp leather tech kit, $225, and shoulder bag, $280

The only artist whose work I would collect if I could it is Helen Frankenthaler and, specifically, her engravings. I love Color Field painting and abstract expressionism in general.

My favorite room in my house. it’s the bedroom of our mid-century house in Austin. The bedroom is cantilevered over the landscape and the space has great natural light. We also have mid-century Italian Stilnovo sconces on the walls and a very pale green rug, all of which make this room feel like a haven.

my favorite place It is the rock tank, a former water storage facility, on our ranch, which we now use as a swimming pool. It is the simplest design, made of old rock and local pipes, materials that are from this place. When I am here I feel completely serene.

my favorite app it’s Nix Toolkit, a color matching app that tells you which manufacturers produce that particular shade you’re looking for.

In another life it would have been a lady in some old west bar; She technically she would be running a “business” and she might as well drink whiskey. I tried poetry, I tried law, and I worked in the Manhattan district attorney’s office. But I think I have found my perfect job as a hotelier and designer.

The basic toiletries that I never lack they are lip balm, of any kind, and hair paste, often from Oribe. oribe Rough Luxury Smooth Molding Dough, $39

The place that changed everything for me It is Baja in Mexico. We built a small enclosure in El Pescadero and it is surrounded by farms of strawberries, poblanos and basil. That smell of basil in the air! We live next to a beautiful surf break and it’s a great place to watch whales: gray, humpback, blue. It is now a gathering place for friends and family.

My care and wellness gurus They are my wife, Erin Lee Smith, who is a makeup artist and beauty director at ByGeorge in Austin. This comes in handy. Then there’s my amazing masseuse, Kara Dawson, whose details I’m afraid to share because she’s already so busy; and my trainer of 12 years, Andy Twellman, from Driven. We have been in a long conversation, including through Covid, three times a week, regardless of where I am in the world.

The best advice I’ve ever received include: “You are the sky. Everything else, it’s just the weather”, which means that all the crazy fluctuations of life will pass. And from Hunter S Thompson, though not for me: “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” It is important to be all-in.