House Beautiful articles from December 2005

House Beautiful archives from December 2005

Let is snow.(editor's letter)(Column)
December 1, 2005... This will be my fourth winter in the house in Westchester County, New York, and already I'm gearing up for another bone-chilling cold season. I was pulling into my driveway recently and looked over at the evergreen trees and imagined that soon...

Yellow fever.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I was thrilled to see the "Monthly Makeover" ["Make It Beautiful"] you did for the Connecticut family, featured in the October issue. My family room is just like the one pictured, and I recently started remodeling and redecorating it, along...

At the table.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciated and enjoyed "Table of Plenty" ["Thoughts of Home"] by Susan O'Brien Fischer in the October issue. It moved me to tears as I recalled the home I lived in as a child. It was in the United Kingdom...

Garden delight.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Thank you for capturing the Manoir d'Eyrignac ["French Twist," September] in all of its green glory. I was surprised to find that this garden is primarily made up of yew, box, and hornbeam. The gardeners who clip the foliage by hand are true...

New look.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I've really enjoyed the September and October issues. The magazine's new look makes it even better than it was when I chose to subscribe several years ago. I'm glad I held on to see gardening, entertaining, and good short essays once again...

Wish list: the guide on what to get for the home and everyone in it; all that she wants, he wants, and you want to find under a big red bow. Pick presents that will spark passions, indulge loved ones, and make your interiors shine.(DECORATING/ style beat)
December 1, 2005... for her End of the Rainbow Silver teeth clench a leather handle for a solid grip on the ultimate tote in a chic and lustrous shade. Valetta Large Mally in Gold, $495; from Kate Spade: 866-999-5283. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SILK SPIN...

Table talk: decking the dining room for the holidays needn't break the bank--new tablecloths create instant, easy makeovers.(DECORATING / swatch watch)
December 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Above: A traditionally set table features a cloth made from Scroll (4145) in Sky/Wine, a graphic hemp linen weave by Kathryn M. Ireland. Right, above: Lampas Paisley in Raspberry by Beacon Hill is a silk with a sheen...

Decorate with plants: designer Markham Roberts says winter is the best time to really appreciate indoor plants and flowers.(DECORATING / how to ...)
December 1, 2005... THE REAL THING Avoid using fake plants and flowers--there's a real risk they'll look cheesy. Always use a healthy plant or beautiful cut flowers. CHOICES There are countless varieties of plants suited to indoor environments. I often use...

'Tis the season: two West Coast designers offer an array of tips on how you can make your house come alive at the holidays.(DECORATING / designer's top ten)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... 1 Use inexpensive Indian throws as tablecloths or as a skirt around the bottom of the tree. They can also be quickly stitched up into great pillows to add some exotic holiday flavor. 2 Handmade Christmas stockings add an unexpected and...

Southern charm: by building up rather than out, a Georgia ranch-style house has been reimagined to let the sunshine in.(DECORATING / to the rescue)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... THIS WIDE, LOW RANCH-STYLE HOME had been untouched for 31 years, and the homeowners felt it needed opening up with higher ceilings and bigger spaces to accommodate their growing family. House Beautiful asked Melanie Taylor of Melanie Taylor...

Divide and conquer.(DECORATING / problem solvers)
December 1, 2005... PROBLEM: A family room that went overboard on faux painting, with furnishings lost at sea SOLUTION: A designer teams with Pottery Barn to carve two rooms out of one THE ROOM WAS GENEROUS in proportion, lined with windows and had good...

A star from the East: an apartment with a refined Japanese aesthetic and a notable art collection is a sumptuous setting for holiday festivities.
December 1, 2005... ALEXANDRA MUNROE'S fine curatorial eye was quickly brought into play when she first saw this corner apartment overlooking the East River in Manhattan. "It was a complete shambles," she says, "but I fell in love with the light and the view."...

Miami heat: Alison Spear designs expansive, flowing spaces punctuated by vivid color and shimmering mosaics in a South Beach apartment.
December 1, 2005... WE INTERVIEWED EVERY designer in Miami," says Cristiana Machado, talking about the search for someone to help her and husband, Marcos, with their 3,700-square-foot apartment in a new condominium tower in South Beach's SoFi district--a tiny...

Natural wonders: looking to the outdoors for inspiration, we used some common greenery and lavender to unusual effect for this year's holiday decorations.
December 1, 2005... PURPLE HAZE Amethyst vases, decanters, and two hefty hurricanes from William Yeoward Crystal set up a striking color scheme and complement a garland made of two kinds of arborvitae. A silvery sunburst mirror from Carvers' Guild tops a...

Point of view: with forms that echo the forest setting, architect Jim Olson designs a house near Seattle that embraces the natural world.
December 1, 2005... THE DEER and elk are apt to saunter right up to the door, which just shows how discreetly this house by architect Jim Olson blends into the landscape. Built on five rural acres near Seattle, Washington, for clients who are avid birdwatchers,...

City lights: designer Libby Moulton helps her artist friend Clare Potter streamline and simplify her Manhattan apartment in time for the holidays.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2005... DON'T TELL MARIO BUATTA, the renowned Prince of Chintz, but sometimes removing that famously busy fabric does the trick. Designer Libby Moulton had already picked out the perfect chintz for her client and longtime friend Clare Potter. It...

Glass act: Martin and Mariann Megna keep an ancient craft alive in Sag Harbor, New York.(PASSIONS / artisan)
December 1, 2005... AT SEVEN YEARS OLD, Martin Megna watched, enthralled, as Walter Evans turned molten liquid into solid glass at a demonstration at the 1964 New York World's Fair. His fascination with glass endured through a career in plumbing and pipe fitting,...

Extraordinary evergreens: a garden staple fills out borders, masks bad views, and comes in unexpected shades and shapes.(PASSIONS / gardening)
December 1, 2005... CONIFERS ACT AS solids in the landscape, their mass a foil to airy flower plantings and their steadfast color a great background for autumn foliage. Evergreens can also block out unwanted views and noise--the wind rustling through their needles...

Buttoned up: everyday objects become the center of attention in collections that take on the significance of art.(PASSIONS / weekend shopper)
December 1, 2005... A GOOD FLEA MARKET provides an outlet for any acquisitive obsession, no matter how rare the object or how ordinary. Take the brisk trade enjoyed by vintage button dealers: "Button collecting is huge," says associate editor Edward Ross. "There...

White out: Northern gardeners cherish snow for the protection it gives plants from freezing temperatures and withering winds. It also lends an unexpected: layer of beauty.(PASSIONS / garden view)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Left: Garden designer Hitch Lyman created a Greek Revival chicken house for author Page Dickey and her husband. To enliven the frozen landscape, Dickey planted Rosegold pussy willow (Salix gracolistyla), below and bottom, and witch hazel...

Lenox celebrates you.(Highlights)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... This Holiday Season Lenox Celebrates You--The Ultimate Gift Giver! Enter to Win $10,000 in Prizes "Lenox Celebrates You" Sweepstakes prize package includes: * A week's vacation to the destination of your choice * Gifts for...

Duralee.(Highlights)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... Duralee's BROOKSIDE Collection is a woven set of five fabric books featuring a delightful array of antique document-inspired decorative patterns. Rich with a variety of scales, full of pretty cheerful patterns with just a touch of whimsy,...

Home for the holidays: a New York journalist faces loss and redemption at her childhood home in Pittsburgh.(PASSIONS / thoughts of home)
December 1, 2005... BACK HOME IN PITTSBURGH it's Christmas again, and everything is the same as it has always been: The majestic redbrick house straddling a snow-dusted lawn. The red-ribbon wreath stenciling a perfect circle on the oak door. Each window suffused...

Luxury Italian style: Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli enjoys a fairy-tale setting described by writer D.H. Lawrence as "one of the most beautiful places on earth".
December 1, 2005... THE COCOON OF LUXURY and comfort begins as soon as a visitor arrives at Milan's teeming Malapensa airport and is promptly wisked through the beautiful Lombardy region of northern Italy to the Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli. Few fail to gasp as...

Green and light: a young family builds new traditions with a whimsical party that suits their modern, upbeat lifestyle.(ENTERTAINING / gatherings)
December 1, 2005... GROWING UP IN Minnesota, makeup artist Sonia Kashuk and her husband, Bumble and Bumble executive Daniel Kaner, both celebrated Hanukkah with their families. Though they still have strong ties to the state (relatives remain there, and Kashuk's...

Behind the holiday magic.(stain removal)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Even with a holiday perennial like The Nutcracker ballet, the unexpected can happen. At Berkeley Ballet Theater, across the Bay from San Francisco, costume drama struck on the eve of the annual performance. "Our volunteer mother had spent...

Dr. laundry answers the tough stain questions.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Q: Oh no! I just pulled out my beautiful white tablecloth for my holiday table setting, and noticed a red wine stain from last year. Can the cloth be saved? Dr. Laundry: Ah, the dreaded stored stain. Yes, your cloth can be saved. Pretreat...

Chocolate fest: cook it, eat it, or read all about it. The bottom line is that this is the season when everyone's favorite confection takes center stage.(ENTERTAINING / editor's choice)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... FRENCH DIP The Jacques Torres fondue set comes with a recipe from the celebrated chocolatier, along with two pounds of his chocolate. Includes stainless-steel pot and dipping forks, as well as fuel to get started, $85; by Bodum:...

In the cards: assigned seating at holiday parties can elicit groans from guests--but imaginative escort cards can lighten the mood and set the tone for the festivities that follow.(ENTERTAINING/ with David Stark)
December 1, 2005... Traditional escort cards aren't stuffy when propped on ribbon candy. "Seated dinners can be rigid, but it's a great way to introduce people, and when you start the evening with candy you change expectations," says David Stark, creative director...

Party favors: save the fancy libations for quiet dinners. When it comes to parties, there are red, white, and sparkling wines that are easy to drink--and easy on the budget.(ENTERTAINING / spirits)
December 1, 2005... A BIG GATHERING isn't the place to pull out the big bottles. The first time I gave a really large party, I let pride override prudence and bought wines that I thought would show off my wine savvy and thereby show my guests how glad I was to...

In the spirit: David Stark reimagines holiday centerpieces that infuse style and whimsy into a festive Hanukkah celebration.
December 1, 2005... "Hanukkah decorations don't have to be in the expected blue and silver palette that's typical of the season," says Stark, who chose a variety of greens, whites, and purples This page: A simple bouquet in unconventional Hanukkah colors: lily...

Prime time: the Lobel master butchers in New York are renowned for their cuts of meat and their expertise in preparing and cooking them. Here they share their family recipes for a variety of roasts, just in time for holiday feasts.
December 1, 2005... HERB-RUBBED ROAST LEG OF PORK As it roasts, a natural layer of fat turns into crackling, which encases a leg of pork presented on a Victorian porcelain ham stand from Ann-Morris Antiques; copper pan from Bridge Kitchenware. CROWN ROAST...

Finally, a shine that lasts: miracle polish ends struggle with tarnishing metals.
December 1, 2005... Lately, I have noticed quite a few newspapers and magazines praising a polish formulated by a homemaker. The articles report that Donna Maas grew frustrated with rubbing and scrubbing her silver, brass and other metals only to see them quickly...

Wall words.(HOUSE BEAUTIFUL / beautiful finds)
December 1, 2005... Make a statement with Wall Words, easy-to-apply rub-on transfers for walls, windows, mirrors and furniture that mimic the look of expensive hand-painted lettering! Go to wallwords.com to choose from hundreds of ready-made quotes -or- write one...

Spectrum.(HOUSE BEAUTIFUL / beautiful finds)
December 1, 2005... 100% Crystal Wrought Iron Chandelier. This beautiful chandelier has 6 lights and is decorated and draped with hand-cut and polished 100% crystal that capture and reflect the light of the candle bulbs. The timeless elegance of this chandelier is...

Sterling silverware for sale.(HOUSE BEAUTIFUL / beautiful finds)
December 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. National...

Wellington's leather furniture.(HOUSE BEAUTIFUL / beautiful finds)
December 1, 2005... WELLINGTON'S LEATHER FURNITURE invites you to save time and money by shopping with us. We've been offering the highest quality of service and customer satisfaction since 1982. Our styles range from traditional to contemporary. Sale now in...

Hunt galleries.(HOUSE BEAUTIFUL / beautiful finds)
December 1, 2005... Beautiful design, heirloom quality, meticulous upholstery... our "Deanna Marie" Sofa is one of hundreds of items we build from start to finish at our factory in Hickory, NC. Send your own fabric or choose from our fabrics/leather. Toll Free:...

Mayfield leather.(HOUSE BEAUTIFUL / beautiful finds)
December 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...

Made in the shade.(FINISHING TOUCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Even the most plain-Jane lamp can get dressed up for the holidays. "All it takes is a change of shade," says designer David Stark, who bought an inexpensive paper shade, painted it with Benjamin Moore's Lucky Charm Green, and glued on some felt...