House Beautiful articles from April 2005

House Beautiful archives from April 2005

Ideal reflections.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... Mark Mayfield's editor's letter in the February issue included a wonderful description of what a home can be. Like many of us, he is passionate about his home and the pleasure and comfort it can bestow. I also believe a home shouldn't be a...

Mantel matters.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... As usual, the magazine is full of wonderful articles and ideas. I especially enjoyed the February article on decorating the fireplace mantel ["How To... Decorate a Mantel"]. The many themes and ideas it touched upon were vehicles for...

Wild things.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I've just finished reading the January issue and wanted to let you know how much I loved Robin Bell's apartment ["Urban Safari"]. It's outstanding and is it ever my style? Years ago, I used to go to El Morocco, the famed New York nightclub that...

Ice age.(Editor's Letter; kit allows you to create skating rink in your own yard)
April 1, 2005... Here in the Northeast, spring doesn't arrive as early as many of us would like. In fact, it doesn't arrive like clockwork anywhere in this country. I can recall Easter mornings in Birmingham, Alabama, where I grew up, that were bone-chilling...

Indulge.(Style Beat; kitchenware)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... KITCHENS need not be sterile and clean-lined laboratory spaces where efficiency trumps style. Take design cues from two sensual and rich foods that happen to represent a sizzling color combination that is currently in vogue: chocolate and...

Coppertone.(Style Beat)
April 1, 2005... TABLE IT Cloth napkins can be made from any fabric and are a carb-free addition to any meal. Napkins made from Lucky Match fabric by Victoria Hagan through Victoria Hagan Home: 212-888-3241. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DAILY GRIND Vic...

Highlights April/05.(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... HomeSWEETHome Sweepstakes Staying home has never been so sweet! Enter to win the HomeSWEETHome Sweepstakes and you may be snuggling up on the Mitchell Gold Clifton sectional in front of your new Philips 32" LCD FlatTV[TM] with Ambilight....

The big table white linens silver with substance.(Style Beat)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Like people, tables can look great when they are long and lean, and an extra-long table invites friends to linger and spread out. White linens can be a small point of order amid everyday chaos; turn a large lap napkin into a tablecloth for two,...

Fruited plains.(Style Beat; fruit bowls)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Designers are putting fruit on a pedestal with elevated status on kitchen islands. Los Angeles-based Kelly Wearstler likes retro styles, while Southerner Bobby McAlpine opts for antique bowls in dark wood. Kelly Hoppen designed a glass version...

Slice of life: new options for the kitchen counter that make the cut.(Style Beat)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... TOASTMASTER An orange tone gives a common tool some zest. Pro Line four-slice toaster boasts nine browning settings, $300; by KitchenAid, through Williams-Sonoma: www.williams-sonoma.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A CUT ABOVE Banish boring...

The island aisle.(Style Beat; Essential Home product line from Kmart Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Kmart's newly revamped Essential Home product line includes this high-style but well-priced ($200) and efficient island that would also work well in the laudrry room. Kitchen towels, $3 for a set of 3. All from Kmart: 866-562-7848. ...

Cooking tunes.(Style Beat; favorite songs of celebrity chefs)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... In the kitchen, great chefs generate a kind of heat that has nothing to do with Btu's, using music to set the mood. Herewith, some cited favorites: Jamie Oliver, the Naked Chef, gives big strokes to The Strokes and Coldplay. * Nigella Lawson,...

Bring your own.(Style Beat; lunch boxes back in vogue)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Lunch boxes are back in vogue--and not just in the school cafeteria. The byo lunchbag (above right) is made from the same neoprene material used in wet suits, doubles as a place mat, and is machine washable. Pack one and skip the airline meal...

Potluck.(Style Beat; kitchen lines from celebrity chefs )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Celebrity chefs are expanding their empires to include kitchen lines, producing pots and pans that bear their seal of approval (and their logos). But brand expansion often translates into ideal opportunities for the average consumer, who can...

The perfect blend.(The New Kitchen Collectibles; blender )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... This new blender whips together tortoise shell-colored glass with a copper base for a sophisticated mixer. Attrezzi blender, $209; from Jenn-Air: www.jennair.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Hidden assets.(The New Kitchen Collectibles; coffeepot)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Industrial designer Jasper Morrison upgrades the standard coffeepot with invisible elements inside the lid of this sleek, clever machine, $150; from Rowenta: www.rowentausa-morrison.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Classic curves.(The New Kitchen Collectibles; dinnerware)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Classic Century line combines two dinnerware patterns designed by Eva Zeisel for Hall China in the 1950s into one to collect today. Now 98, Zeisel also designed her first mug, which can take the place of a cup and saucer in a traditional...

The upshot.(The New Kitchen Collectibles; kitchen stool)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Designed by Shin and Tomoko Azumi, a husband-and-wife design team whose talent was first spotted by Prince Charles's Trust at their college degree show, this stool swivels and adjusts height with a lever that activates a gas cylinder. Its...

Tea zing.(The New Kitchen Collectibles; tea set )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... This tea set is elegance captured in your palm. Made by the protege of top British ceramists Edmund de Waal and Rupert Spira, the set mixes a textured Asian influence with modern ergonomics--the oversize handle has a subtle thumb-rest. Teapot,...

Let's dish .(Swatch Watch; kitchen accessories)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Kitchen towels, once the forlorn handmaiden of the cook, now flaunt their colors with pattern, texture--even trim--making perfect one-of-a-kind seat covers Create removable--and washable--slipcovers for kitchen stools from the range of...

The consummate kitchen: designer Gary Paul reveals how to make your kitchen function to the max and still look stylish.(Designer's Top Ten)
April 1, 2005... 1 Zone your kitchen according to functions and account for every task. This includes food preparation, eating, cleanup, and storage. Don't forget areas for scrubbing potatoes as well as pots, taking a coffee break, surfing the net, dining...

Designer's dream: a decorator crafts an efficient kitchen for his new home using classic lines, modern appliances, and precise, thoughtful lighting.(Makeover)
April 1, 2005... UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE, designers Stephen Saint-Onge deliberately looked for a kitchen that needed renovation when he recently began to search for a new house. "I've always had a dream kitchen in mind," he says, "so I wanted to find one that had...

How to ... style a kitchen: before you renovate, choose a motif that fits your aesthetic, as well as your family's needs. Here's a selection of themes to fit most any mood.
April 1, 2005... COUNTRY Simple furniture, muted colors, milk-paint finishes, and homespun or classic fabrics have traditionally characterized country kitchens. But today's country look is open to a much broader interpretation; the style has evolved to...

Wide open spaces: when it came to redecorating their great room, a Texas couple hit a dry spell and got help from House Beautiful and Pier 1 imports.(Problem Solvers)
April 1, 2005... A GREAT ROOM can be an alluring proposition--so tempting to flaunt convention and defy formality--but good luck decorating it. Designing and furnishing a space that can span the width of a home can be baffling, especially when you've already...

A fine showing: a much-touted antiques show in Charleston hits the ground running.(Antiques)(Historic Charleston Foundation)
April 1, 2005... THE DRAMA preceding the opening of an antiques show is particularly high when the show is new. Committees are formed, options weighed, and high hopes abound, but professionals know that getting things right the first time is notoriously...

Outside the box: HB's associate editor Edward Ross finds a cache of secondhand frames that inspires a riff on botanical prints.(Weekend Shopper)
April 1, 2005... Edward Ross set out for the flea market in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York with frames on the brain. Recently possessed of a set of black and white etchings, he had been priced out of a professional framing job with a budget-busting...

Secrets of the summer: a stash of old letters holds a special gift for a single mother seeking solace during a season in Maine.(Thoughts Of Home.)
April 1, 2005... "THE FOUNDATION," the letter said, "also has a pleasant old house in Maine that will be available for the summer." The foundation in question was a small Boston concern that provided grants to artists. At the time, I was the recipient of...

Youth movement: designer Celerie Kemble brings both whimsy and a flair for fashion to her new collection.(HB Shops)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Over the last few years, Celerie Kemble has established a reputation for a clever use of color and an appealing urban sensibility. Her new line, Celerie For Laneventure, takes cues from 1930s Hollywood and retro Palm Beach style, with youthful,...

A modern slant: a traditional New York brownstone feels more expansive with a sleek, streamlined kitchen.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... THE 1896 HARLEM brownstone had already been stripped of its original details, so owners Bruce Tilley and Luis Mora had no qualms about turning a whole floor into one big living and dining space. "We love to cook for our friends and we wanted a...

Cooking light: a 1920s Southern house finally gets the kitchen it deserves--a bright and airy family space that hints at the old while embracing the new.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... THE GRACIOUS 1920s HOUSE in Charlotte, North Carolina, had been expanded so many times that the kitchen was a wreck; all chopped up, with the refrigerator standing in the former service porch. The new owners, a family with three children,...

Mission accomplished: a family happily expand into their new kitchen, designed with an Arts & Crafts aesthetic and an extreme attention to detail.
April 1, 2005... WHEN THE OWNERS of a 1920s bungalow-style house in Metuchen, New Jersey, decided to renovate their galley kitchen, they were shocked to discover how much it would cost to alter their existing space. Then we thought, perhaps it wouldn't take...

A closer look.
April 1, 2005... From faucets to countertops, here's what you need to reproduce the styles and designs featured in the pages of House Beautiful Bacchus High-Arc faucet in antique copper finish, by Kallista. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A gooseneck...

Island idyll: a South Carolina island retreat appeals to young and old alike, thanks to a unique design created by a team of Atlanta architects.
April 1, 2005... FROM THE GREATEST GENERATION to Generation X, the media love to lump Americans into groups. But most people don't fit neatly under one label--they often straddle more than one generation, or identify with one far removed from their own. A...

Asparagus artistry: George Lang's unique collection of asparagus-themed artifacts is as much about love as it is about art.
April 1, 2005... IT'S SPRING, and according to George Lang a man's fancy, young or not, should turn to asparagus. That this idea should strike Lang and his wife, Jenifer, as obvious is not surprising. The substantial collection of asparagus-related articles...

Perfect proportions: a midcentury California classic is lovingly restored and furnished with pieces from each of its seven decades of history.
April 1, 2005... DURING THE 1930s, '40s, AND '50s, William Wurster built what he liked to call "large small houses," primarily in northern California's Bay Area. His pioneering designs created flexible interior rooms with high ceilings, lots of light, and easy...

Color field: irises from all over the world fill a breathtaking abbey garden in southwestern France.
April 1, 2005... The Romanesque abbey of St. Michel de Cuxa in the French village of Codalet. Part of its 12th-century cloister was brought to New York in the early 20th century by George Grey Barnard, a sculptor. It now forms part of The Cloisters complex, a...

Dutch treat: an architect and a designer deliver a fresh twist on Dutch Colonial architecture for a beach house on the Gulf of Mexico.
April 1, 2005... FOR ATLANTA interior designer Kay Douglass, building her own vacation house served a dual purpose: it was an opportunity to explore her aesthetic alter ego as well as a chance to have some fun at the beach. Kay and her husband, Jim, had...

Cooks' corner: two food pros entertain their friends in their newly refurbished kitchen.
April 1, 2005... SPRING PEA SOUP WITH GRILLED PROSCIUTTO Serve with 2004 Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. 4 ounces low-fat goat cheese 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small onion, peeled and...

Green giants: extra-large perennials can be the answer to a wealth of garden problem spots.(Garden Goddess)
April 1, 2005... I HAVE AN AFFINITY for tall men and tall plants. The thing for tall guys is not unique, but many gardeners overlook the value of plants that grow to heights of six feet or more. In a big garden, such plants help to fill large empty spaces; in a...

It's a spring thing: imagine the possibilities: ah, spring! There's something about this time of year that inspires us to start fresh. Imagine how great your home could look if you minimized clutter, changed a few toss pillows and rolled out a bright spring throw rug. It's that easy.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... No time for a thorough spring cleaning? Here are some quick cleaning tips and design solutions that won't break the bank. Purge Before You Splurge Grab four trash bags--strong ones like GLAD[R] ForceFlex[TM] bags are a good bet. They...

House Beautiful suite opens at the Peninsula Beverly Hills.(Highlights)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... This April, House Beautiful unveils a stunning designer suite at one of the world's most renowned hotels--The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Alessandra Branca, one of House Beautiful's Top 125 Interior Designers, designed the suite, which will be a...

Michael Berman Christmas.(Highlights)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... This past December, award-winning interior/furniture designer Michael Berman held his third annual holiday gala, "Lexus Presents: The Giving Tree". The Pacific Design Center hosted the event, where decorated holiday trees were auctioned by...

Chico's.(Highlights)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Exclusively designed apparel and accessories at locations nationwide, online and by phone. Current but never trendy, Chico's carries everything from comfortable, everyday clothing to elegant eveningwear. For a free catalog with a special...

Storehouse.(Highlights)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Good Design. It's eclectic, but not eccentric. Modern, but not stark. Timeless, but still timely. With 60-plus retail stores, an 80-page catalog, and website, www.storehouse.com, we not only make that kind of good design accessible, we also...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
April 1, 2005... March 2005: The information for "Keen Green" on page was inadvertently omitted. The caption should have read: Shams from the Home Link Geo duvet set and Home Lattice Geo duvet set, $150 each; by Tommy Hilfiger Home; tommy.com

Mayfield Leather.(Beautiful Finds)
April 1, 2005... MAYFIELD LEATHER offers a full line of quality heirloom seating at direct sale prices. Choose from over 50 top grain leathers and save on all styles, shipped directly to you. Call 800-342-7729 for catalog ($5, refundable with order) or visit us...

Florentine Craftsmen, Inc.(Beautiful Finds)
April 1, 2005... FLORENTINE CRAFTSMEN, INC. had been hand-crafting quality high-end garden ornaments, statuary, fountains, and more, for over 80 years. Our unique products are made out of lead, bronze, iron, aluminum, and stone. For a catalog of our complete...

Village Furniture House.(Beautiful Finds)
April 1, 2005... Savings, convenience and service from the heart of North Carolina. Save up to 60% on hundreds of furniture brands. World wide shipping. Call for a free brochure. Village Furniture House, 146 West Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081. 704-938-9171;...

Interiors by Decorating Den.(Beautiful Finds)
April 1, 2005... INTERIORS BY DECORATING DEN has been a great find for 35 years. Turn your decorating passion into a career. No formal experience necessary as they have full training programs. Home-based, low overhead, direct wholesale accounts with turn-key...

Sterling silverware for sale.(Beautiful Finds)
April 1, 2005... More than 6,000 patterns of new and discontinued flatware patterns at very affordable prices. China, crystal and fine silver gift items also available. Call Silver Queen at 800-262-3134 for a free catalog, or visit www.silverqueen.com....

Pet doors U.S.A.(Beautiful Finds)
April 1, 2005... Over 201 styles of pet doors to choose from. No need to rush home or get up early on the weekends. Your pet will enjoy the freedom to come and go as they' please. Choose from doors for doors, walls, screens or patio doors. We even carry'...

Mission control: a knockout knob reinforces an Arts & Crafts theme.(Finishing Touch)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Inspired by Gustav Stickley's Mission furniture, these kitchen cabinets were custom-made out of quartersawn oak with mahogany pegs and rain glass, which is textured to look antique (see the complete kitchen on page 84). Naturally, such handsome...