House Beautiful articles from April 2007

House Beautiful archives from April 2007

They're made of what?(THE BEST!)(Paper slipcovers)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Paper! Sized to fit a standard dining room chair, these nasturtium slipcovers are fabric-like and only $3.99 each. They'll make any party more fun. Also available in a Rose Petal pattern. Limited edition Capucine chair covers by Isabelle de...

1 Hanging light.(THE BEST!)
April 1, 2007... Baubles, bangles, and turquoise glass beads. Wouldn't this just make a powder room? 8-inch diameter, handmade in India. The Globe, $275. SPARKLE: www.sparkledivine.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2 Stools.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Big in the 1960s and '70s, these Indian bamboo stools are back, updated in tutti-frutti colors. Now the tops are woven of recycled plastic instead of wicker, to be more durable, $35, ENVI DESIGNER CONCEPTS: www.envi.ca. [ILLUSTRATION...

3 Topiary frame.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Floppy cars, curly tail, big eyes--just add moss. Or don't bother. This wire-frame pug is adorable on his own, like a sketch come to life. Pug, $70. Other animals available. MXYPLYZYK: 212-989-4300. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

4 Candle.(THE BEST!)
April 1, 2007... Think spring with this dripless and smokeless 100 percent paraffin wax candle. Made in France. 6-inch, $21; 10-inch, $33. INDULGE: 713-888-0181. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

5 PDA holder.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... No more rummaging around for that cell phone or Black-Berry. This fleece-lined neoprene case hooks on a bag or belt like a luggage tag. Electronic Pocket in three sizes and colors, from $18. BUILT NY: www.builtny.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

6 Book brush.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... How did we live without this? Goat hair bristles dislodge the dust that's settled on the tops of all those bestsellers lining your shelves. Book Brush, $30. CALDREA: 877-576-8808. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

1 Teacups.(THE BEST!)
April 1, 2007... Handleless cups are suddenly chic, and this porcelain hits all the right notes--great shape, bold graphics. $10 each. Collectors Cups. BOCONCEPT: 888-616-3620. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2 Teapot.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Watch time slow down as tea blossoms in this elegant pot, a fusion of modern heat-resistant glass and traditional bamboo. Glass & Bamboo Teapot, $60. JAYSON HOME & GARDEN: 800-472-1885. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

3 Photographs.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Evelyn H. Lauder's photographs have been exhibited all over the world, and this limited-edition portfolio of her recent work--still lifes of her collection of midcentury "head vases"--benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Ten signed...

4 Lampshades.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... We've found the best-made honey-colored rattan shades, woven in the style of Nantucket lightship baskets. From 4 to 10 inches high, $13 to $36. HARVEST OF BARNSTABLE: 508-362-4595. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

5 Chair.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Bring home a bit of Paris, straight From the sun-dappled Luxembourg Gardens. The powder-coated aluminum Luxembourg Side Chair, $216, comes in 27 colors. FERMOB: www.fermobusa.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

1 Serving dishes.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... For the beachcomber's table, these exquisite hand-painted ceramic bowls replicate every lovely striation of the original sea creatures. Mussel and Sea Urchin Bowls, in various sizes, from $48. ZELEN HOME: 323-658-6756. [ILLUSTRATION...

2 Wicker basket.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... European women use these for daily marketing, but why not try it as a laundry hamper, a picnic basket, or take it into the garden to haul tools? Rolling Wicker Picnic Basket, $110. MOTHOLOGY: www.mothology.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

3 Portable lamp.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... When starlight is not enough, bring out this glowing LED light, which will last 6 to 10 hours before it has to be recharged. Segues from dim to bright with a slight turn of the base. Luau Lantern by Vessel, $249. RED ENVELOPE: 877-733-3683. ...

4 Noodle bowl.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Home alone? Cozy up on the sofa with a big helping of soup in this noodle-friendly bowl. Complete with chopsticks, it's shaped to hold comfortably in one hand. Udon Bowl, $26. UNCOMMON GOODS: 888-365-0056. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

5 Doorstop.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Made the old-fashioned way with a brick, covered in hand-done needlepoint--hard to find these days. The charming animal or geometric patterns are based on document fabrics. Needlepoint Doorstops, $225. LARS BOLANDER: 212-924-1000. ...

Color on furniture: everybody has a dowdy old chair or bureau that could use a little help. Just pick up a brush, say these designers, and paint on some personality.
April 1, 2007... RUTHIE SOMMERS RALPH LAUREN PAINT RELAY RED IB11 I found this chair in Florida on the Dixie Highway and fell in love with the, high fretwork back. In brown it, looked, dreary, so I painted it pomegranate red. It turned out so well I'm going...

Instant room vines: globetrotting designer Michael S. Smith brings home the world in his wonderfully diverse fabric line. Here's how he'd transform your living room.
April 1, 2007... HOW HE'D DO IT Using fabrics and furniture from his signature Jasper line, Smith creates a comfortable living room with exotic and textural accents. JAMMU (1) on the Hunt Chair looks like a pattern, reads like a stripe. Meandering vines on...

I want to buy aluminum tableware: Carol Prisant shows us what to look for.(COLLECTING)
April 1, 2007... A LITTLE BACKSTORY Here's what you can do with cool, lightweight aluminum: hammer it; print on it; color it with jewel tones; put ice in it, and then write your initials on the condensation. It makes nice tableware, too, although--like the...

I'm looking for a vanity: what a stylish way to start the day--with new furniture for the bath.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... 1. LUXE VANITY, from $ 5,800 (prices for all pieces are as shown; other finishes and options may be available). WALKER ZANGER: www.walkerzanger.com. 2. EPURA COTTAGE VANITY AND SINK, from $2,390. VILLEROY & BOCH: 877-505-5350. 3. STARCK 1 SINK...

Ask the dog shrink: suddenly they're weird at mealtimes ... dog dinnerware, formerly known as bowls.
April 1, 2007... Q: My puppy has started refusing to eat out of her metal food bowl. I lie only way she'll eat is if I sit on the floor and feed her by hand How can I get her to eat on her own a again? A RULE NO. 1 IN DOG TRAINING Whenever there's a problem...

Maintenance midcentury furniture: modernist pieces are upholsterer Sol Ovadia's speciality. Eve M. Kahn gets the lowdown on restoring them to their original condition.
April 1, 2007... Many midcentury dealers I talked to said you're the only upholsterer they know who understands this kind of furniture. We've done so much of it that we know exactly what the pieces looked like originally--where the lines of buttons or...

Weekend project/decorative trays: Trading Spaces' Leslie Segrete finds some ordinary wood trays, adds a dash of color, lines them with pretty shell veneers, and wows us with the shimmering result.
April 1, 2007... THE FINISHING TOUCH "I saw two bonsai plant stands at a flea market, and thought they were so pretty with their ornate detailing on the sides of the bases. Then when I turned them upside down, I realized they would make great catchalls for a...

Technophobia flat-panels: high definition TVs are more versatile--and specialized--than ever. Audrey Gray finds out what's new, and which one is right for you.
April 1, 2007... for sunny rooms Sharp AQUOS D92U LCD WHY BUY Remember when HDTV screens were so bright you couldn't see them in full daylight? Thanks to the technology and non-glare coatings in Sharps's AQUOS line, you get a high-contrast picture, even in...

Ask the Barefoot Contessa: when you need to please a crowd, make Ina's irresistible chocolate orange fondue.(Recipe)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Q I love to serve parties family-style. Is there an easy dessert that I can make on a big platter in the middle of the table and everyone can help themselves? A One of my favorite desserts is chocolate orange fondue. It's so easy to make,...

Cookbook: have 30 minutes? That's all you'll need to make the recipes in Nancy Silverton's A Twist of the Wrist: Quick Flavorful Meals with ingredients from jars, cans, bags, and boxes.(Recipe)
April 1, 2007... HOW GREAT THAT SOMEONE of Nancy Silverton's talents is tackling the subject of meals made easy. Silverton is the creator of Los Angeles's famous La Brea Bakery, as well as an award-winning chef. In her new book she "takes advantage of quality...

Furniture now: American casual.(BARBARA WESTBROOK)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... Atlanta-based architect Keith Summerour designed this South Carolina take cottage to capture maximum natural light. He used wooden ceilings throughout and also designed the living room fireplace, made from local granite. At the back of the...

American casual: not quite country, not quite cottage, sophisticated but also very relaxed ...(PIECE BY PIECE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE THINKING A bigger, bolder scale for today s bigger rooms... surfaces and fabrics that get even better with age... collections you use, not things that sit around and collect dust... an oversize lantern instead of a chandelier......

Furniture now: easy luxury.(MARSHALL WATSON)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... PENELOPE GREEN: Would you call yourself a traditional designer? MARSHALL WATSON: [Audible gasp] Hmm... how to answer that one? Well, I was trained by a professor who was strictly schooled in the International Style, so my education in...

Easy luxury: imagine if you lived in a five-star hotel suite, every day of your life ...(PIECE BY PIECE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE THINKING The scale is big, but the feeling is soft... velvets and chenilles on rounder contemporary furniture shapes... silks and metallics add life... white metals and satin finishes... ottomans that double as tables... pillows...

Furniture now: the new romantic.(ANNE MILLER)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... LISA CREGAN: This living room is like a Parisian salon teleported to Greenwich, Connecticut. Why French? ANNE MILLER: I wanted it to be really, really dressy--but not fussy. I love French furniture but I didn't want to see a lot of legs. I...

The new romantic: traditional rooms shake the "velvet rope" feeling and are prettier, more comfortable than ever.(PIECE BY PIECE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE THINKING Less formal, less cluttered than before... French furniture makes a comeback... painted furniture keeps the mood light... petit four colors for walls and fabrics... updated, recolored wallpapers that feel like now... pretty...

Furniture now: the modern mix.(DAVID NETTO)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... HEATHER SMITH MACISAAC: This New York apartment showcases an extraordinary collection of photographs without making them showy. When a collector comes to you to do an interior, is the collection ever an encumbrance, or is it more likely to be...

The modern mix: modern is a state of mind now. Get out of the box, and curate your own personal collection ...(PIECE BY PIECE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE THINKING It's moved past glare and boxy midcentury shapes... try something handcrafted to make it feel human... something "green" to make it feel natural... something Scandinavian or Italian, to make it feel relaxed... photographs (the...

Furniture now: the Swedish fantasy.(CAROL GLASSER)(Interview)(Cover story)
April 1, 2007... CHRISTOPHER PETKANAS: A house that is such an utter valentine to classic Swedish style must be a first for Houston. CAROL GLASSER: It's a primer in how the pure, luminous look of 18th-century Swedish interiors can be modernized and made...

The Swedish fantasy: the dreamy, airy feeling of Gustavian style translates well to American lifestyles everywhere.(PIECE BY PIECE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... THE THINKING It always starts with pale, pretty, grayed-down color... a mix of checked and striped fabrics... graphic area rugs on pale, polished floors... crystal for sparkle... a minimum of accessories... a tallcase clock is a must...

Kitchen of the month: don't let the minimalist design fool you. This sleek, streamlined kitchen has it all--it's just that so much is hidden away.(Interview)
April 1, 2007... CHRISTINE PITTEL: This kitchen looks like it was designed for a sponge--really easy to clean, with all those flat, hard surfaces. Is it? JULIE STEVENSON: Absolutely. At night I just roll that little appliance garage door shut and wipe it...

The look kitchen of the month: this month, it's all about purity, simplicity, and great storage solutions--like a pegboard drawer organizer. There's a lot to be said for no fuss.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... 1. Three LARGE WHITE CERAMIC VASES have more impact than one. Play up the juxtaposition of shape and texture. Set, $89. From $29, individually. WEST ELM: 866-937-8356; www.westelm.com. 2. The wide base of the brushed stainless-steel EVA...

Correction.(Correction notice)
April 1, 2007... March 2006: On page 106, the photographer's name was spelled incorrectly. The correct spelling is: Alec Soth.

The last words: is there any one piece of furniture that the experts use over and over again because it's just so perfect? Mimi Reads checks in with them.(Interview)
April 1, 2007... "We always use glazed ceramic garden stools. They re great anywhere--even in showers, because they can get wet and you can put stuff on them. We especially love the turquoise ones--the glaze wavers and changes throughout." MICHELE TROUT...