Guilt free decadence with social conscience provenance
When I look at the furniture and decorative items around my house — pillows, small tables, candelabras, bowls, lamps and the little things that make up the style of who I am, the pieces I take out from storage or buy new to enhance the changing seasons, or things that just say what I like […]
Shedding New Light on Night Lights
Perhaps you’ve heard the ancient Chinese proverb that says, “Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” I tend to think the same is true for dealing with winter’s short, dark days: better to light your landscape than complain about living in the dark. Winter’s shorter days give us an opportunity to bring the […]
Near But Far
Hangouts that satisfy teens desire to be on their own – while still at home If you have teenagers, you know how they need their “space.” Yet even as they try to distance themselves from their parents – both mentally and spatially – teenagers still want to stay close. This tendency to say “Leave me […]
Dorm Room Design 101
A few weeks ago I was sitting around a large table at Starbucks with six high school seniors discussing dorm rooms. After a timid first half hour, when it was clear that none of the girls had any concrete plans or had even thought in detail about their pending four years (or more?!) of college […]
Dollars and Sense
Why a house renovation is more than JUST looking at numbers Long before deciding on things like countertops and paint colors, homeowners considering major house renovations need to ask themselves more important and basic questions, including: How long are we going to stay here? Can we afford it? What is the value of our house […]
The Real Green
Energy-saving efforts are where money is being spent today. The federal government is pushing states to start saving energy — now. New York state (like many others) has established a new entity devoted entirely to energy saving. The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, or NYSERDA, (no, Jon Stewart didn’t make that up) […]
Family Friendly Fabrics
Does this scenario from a client of mine sound familiar to you: “After this last snowstorm, I have had it. I know spring is not going to come any sooner this year, but the gleaming light bouncing off the snow hit my living room like a 3,000- watt searchlight and revealed the bare and ugly […]
Design Ideas for Working with a Budget
As we embark on a new year and a downturn in the economic environment, most of us have become increasingly cautious about spending. At such times renovation plans tend to be put on hold for a brighter day. While caution and thinking twice about how to spend is always wise, when it comes to the […]
C’mon Baby Light My Fire
What better way to tune out the hectic pace of the post-holidays than to sit down in front of a crackling fire and allow it to soothe your senses with its dancing flames and rustic aromas. I can think of no better way to bring your family together and silence the unending barrage of mindless […]
Luxurious Lavs
Last month we envisioned re-creating the luxurious appeal of a boutique hotel bedroom in your own home. This month let’s take the pampering a step further and see how your en-suite bath can become as luxurious as your new boutique bedroom – and still be uniquely yours. As my clients know, I am committed to green design and […]