Many of the French restaurant ranges we’re seeing in home kitchens lately are enormous. As someone who has cooked and written professionally about food off and on all my life, it’s quite natural to pay attention to ranges -- especially French restaurant ranges -- which we’re seeing in home kitchens more frequently these days. Most of these “pianos,” as French chefs refer to … [Read more...]
Holiday Table Gold
Gilded accents dress up any table for the holidays. Grab the metallic spray paint, clip some boxwood branches and head outside and get busy. Ten minutes later, glittering foliage – like the topiary on this super elegant holiday table – will be ready for your centerpiece. Spray some salvage candlesticks with leftover paint, stock up on ribbon and well, you get the idea. Gold … [Read more...]
Library Ladder Luxury
Library ladder steps can be pushed flat against the wall, then tilted out to 80 degrees for climbing. A rolling library ladder that moves on tracks across a tall expanse of a bookcase or entertainment center is an elegant luxury. They are also practical since they allow access to top shelves close to very high ceilings. Ladders can be metal but the most charming ones come in … [Read more...]
Bold Bathroom Color
Swimming pool blue. Peony pink. Granny Smith green. I'm talking bold bathroom color. When a bold bathroom color covers any significant surface area there’s bound to be a strong reaction – often involuntary and physical according to color theorists. Plus, it’s all ramped up in contrast with white or ivory used for trim and sanitary fixtures, especially in smaller … [Read more...]
Katharine Hepburn’s Kitchen Redone
The dressy new kitchen in the renovated getaway that once belonged to actress Katharine Hepburn, When classic film star Katharine Hepburn died in 2003 at age 96, Fenwick, her 8000-square foot beach house on the Connecticut coast, came onto the real estate market for $12 million and sat there for a year. When the price was halved, a New York construction magnate and his wife … [Read more...]
Understanding Picture Walls
Understanding picture wall ideas is key to creating attractive arrangements. I’ve been thinking about two separate spaces in my house, which prompted me to begin collecting these picture wall ideas. For me, picture walls are less about specific images than the way a grouping is arranged on any wall. Their success depends a lot on the architecture of the wall and on scale – … [Read more...]
