House Beautiful articles from June 2005

House Beautiful archives from June 2005

Iris oversight.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... Thanks for your article about the iris garden at the abbey of St. Michel de Cuxa in France ["Color Field," April 2005]. The general public is woefully unaware of the great strides that have been made in iris hybridization. You pictured a...

Cast not carved.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... The "Antiques" article in the April issue ["A Fine Showing"] contains an error. An 18th-century mantelpiece surround is described as having been carved. But the work is actually what's known as composition. Made from linseed oil, chalk, lead...

Fortuitous focus.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I loved the March issue's focus on color. I'm so tired of bland interior schemes in several shades of beige or gray, with obligatory throw pillows in muted green or brown added for variety. Who can live like that? Give me clutter, give me...

Bright idea.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I have a dog-eared page from your June 2004 issue that features a lighting fixture by designer Stephen McKay ["From Clutter to Calm"]. I have been searching lighting stores and the Web for the beautiful and simple pendant lamp pictured for...

Light the way.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... "Designer's Top Ten" by Kerry Joyce ["Inside Out," May] featured a photograph of waterproof lanterns. I'm planning my 50th anniversary party and they'd be perfect to float in our pool. Could you provide a source? Jane Green via e-mail...

Green omission.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I just bought the March issue and was thrilled that furnishings in chartreuse shades were featured in the "Style Beat" section. But the pillows pictured on the opening page were not accompanied by credit information. Can I get a hint on where...

History in the making.(EDITOR'S LETTER)(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... A couple of weeks ago, my daughter Madison and I were doing some research for a school paper that she had to write on George Washington. We discovered that Washington might have actually spent the night many times in the area where our house is...

Fun in the sun.(STYLE BEAT)
June 1, 2005... Hot Wheels Huffy c, 1950 Convertible Super, $995; from Memory Lane Classics: www.memorylane-classics.com. Wainscott basket, $325; by Kate Spade: 800-519-3778. Wildberries salad plate, $27; by Villeroy & Boch: 800-845-5376. Cheese slicer in...

Lines in the sand.(STYLE BEAT)
June 1, 2005... Bask in a beach chair you won't be ashamed of. Millets chair in ticking stripe, $55; Cath Kidston: www.cathkidston.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Bar in a box.(STYLE BEAT)
June 1, 2005... Make certain you have access to a proper martini wherever you go by packing the essential accoutrements. Leatherette Manhattan cocktail case, $140; through Buy Innovations: www.buyinnovations.com. Moore Meadow vase (used as ice bucket), $100;...

Meals on wheels.(STYLE BEAT)
June 1, 2005... With this handy pack, service for four is totally toteable. Picnic backpack, $65; from Red Envelope: www.redenvelope.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Cheese, please.(STYLE BEAT)
June 1, 2005... Host a tasting for two, en plein air. Santa Barbara Impulse Deluxe wine and cheese serving set, $30; by Picnic at Ascot: 877-676-9266. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Games people play.(STYLE BEAT)
June 1, 2005... Banish boredom. Backgammon board, $3,900; by Asprey: 800-883-2777. Amazing zinc table, $999; from Wisteria: 800-320-9757. Oriental plastic mat, $28; from Urban Outfitters: 800-282-2200. Salsa stripe pillow, $30; from Crate & Barrel:...

Play ball.(STYLE BEAT)
June 1, 2005... Long summer afternoons were made for leisurely games of bocce--a pursuit that should no longer be the sole purview of old men in the park. This set can accommodate eight players, and the bails, made from high-quality resin, are virtually...

Splendor in the grass.(STYLE BEAT)
June 1, 2005... Birilli, the Italian version of lawn bowling, is similar to its counterpart played in strip mall alleys, with some notable exceptions: any patch of green will do for a venue, and you don't have to deal with those smelly shoes. Birilli set, $59;...

The big chill.(KEEPING IT COOL)
June 1, 2005... A backyard barbecue requires cold beverages, but don't blight the patio with an ugly plastic ice chest. Get the job done without causing an eyesore. Teak ice box, $395; from Frontgate: 800-533-7502. Fresh'r ice box, $522; from Janus et Cie:...

Cold transport.(KEEPING IT COOL)
June 1, 2005... Chilling out was never so hot. Boat cooler bag, $195; by Cath Kidston: www.cathkidston.com. Round four-bottle cooler by Mulberry; available from designers, through Lee Jofa: www.leejofa.com. Red spot cooler bag, $195; by Cath Kidston: see...

Safety first.(Style Beat)
June 1, 2005... Because you can never be too careful. Brushed finish fire extinguisher, $30; from Kidde: www.kiddeus.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Central station.(Style Beat)
June 1, 2005... This work top comes equipped with everything you'd need for a cookout, and is light enough to move from poolside to the back porch in a cinch. Barbecue work station, $149; from Smith & Hawken: www.smithandhawken.com. Forged BBQ tools, $69 for a...

Pit stop.(Style Beat)
June 1, 2005... Keep guests warm on cool evenings with a backyard fire pit in a good-looking copper colorway. Soup it up with an add-on grill that's sold separately and it doubles as shish kebab central, Backyard fire pit, $179, and chrome barbecue grill...

Super sauce.(Style Beat)
June 1, 2005... Brooklyn steakhouse Peter Luger has long been known for its way with cuts of beef, but you don't need to score a coveted reservation in order to get a taste of what the eatery has to offer. Peter Luger steak sauce, $46 for 6 bottles; from Peter...

Heavy metal.(Style Beat)
June 1, 2005... Made from stainless steel and complete with their own handy carrying case, these durable utensils could make manning the grill a sought-after post. Primary stainless-steel tools, $58 for a five-piece set; from Picnic at Ascot: 877-676-9266. ...

Spike it.(Style Beat)(garden torches)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Light the way. Belgium torch, $136; from H Groome: 561-832-3444. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Citronella garden cones repel bugs without looking repellant. Available in orange and yellow, $40 each; from H Groome: 561-832-3444. ...

Pretty cool.(SWATCH WATCH)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Pale aqua hues, just right for summer, come in every kind of pattern and are a breezy addition to almost any room. The Brittany chair, in French Gray finish, designed by Mariette Himes Gomez for Hickory Chair, works well outdoors or in,...

Smart art.(DESIGNER'S TOP TEN)(interior design)
June 1, 2005... Paintings, prints, photographs, and sculpture can transform a room. Designer Ernest de la Torre offers expert guidance. 1 Art can create the entire mood for a room. or serve as an exclamation point In a neutral setting. A monochromatic...

Durable goods: Laurie Smith teams up with Hancock Fabrics to create a vibrant new collection.(HB SHOPS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Laurie Smith's road to becoming a fabric designer has been a circuitous one the Texas native had a career in advertising before giving it up to enroll at the New York School of Interior She and her husband settled in Jackson, Mississippi, where...

Room to grow: designer Alessandra Branca helps a couple convert a guest room into a nursery that can evolve along with their baby.(MAKEOVER)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... LIKE MOST MOTHERS expecting a first baby, this client was filled with visions of creating a fantasy nursery for her daughter-to-be. Then Chicago designer Alessandra Branca, herself a mother of three, stepped in. "I don't believe in doing rooms...

Traveler's paradise: tired of hotels? A London apartment feels like you're staying at a friend's house.(ROOMS)
June 1, 2005... ONE OF THE MOST pleasant ways to visit a foreign city is to stay with knowledgeable friends. In an ideal world, your hosts would be clued in to great restaurants and shops, let you whip up a quick lunch in their kitchen, and live in a...

... Spruce up an exterior: the advent of summer means all eyes will be on the outside of your home.(HOW TO ...)
June 1, 2005... Whoever connected the terms lazy and hazy to summer must have been hallucinating---or at the very least, completely laissez-faire in his or her approach to keeping house. Naturally, warm weather is always welcome, but when dining and...

On the road: HB associate editor Edward Ross travels to Florida, where he picks up a lusterware tea set for a pittance.(WEEKEND SHOPPER)
June 1, 2005... A DIE-HARD BARGAIN hunter doesn't let something as trifling as geography get in his way. When reader Joe Shepherd wrote (in response to our call for suggestions) boasting of acres and acres of booths at the Wagon Wheel flea market in Pinellas...

Shine on, Seattle: Mother Nature, civic pride, and edgy modern design easily trump the stereotypes (read Starbucks, computers, and the Space Needle) in this jewel of the Pacific Northwest.(LONG WEEKEND)
June 1, 2005... AS FAR AS DESIGN GOES, Seattle is usually associated with the high-tech stuff: aerospace pioneer Boeing, computing giant Microsoft, and that aging skyline icon of lofty ambition, the Space Needle. But this lovely, friendly city also excels...

Power flowers: floral designer Preston Bailey believes that bigger is better when it comes to a party.(ENTERTAINING)
June 1, 2005... Preston Bailey, events-planner to the stars, does not believe in an understated approach. Whether it's sumptuous hanging garlands made of dendrobium orchid heads and six-foot-high floral candelabras at Donald Trump's recent wedding, or a...

Table for tea: elegant forms, accessible prices, and versatility make antique American tea tables ideal for new collectors.(Antiques)
June 1, 2005... EVER SINCE the first tea leaves were imported to Europe from China more than 400 years ago, few drinks have been as intimately linked with our social and domestic lives as tea. So much so, in fact, that the drink even inspired a distinctive...

First love: a peripatetic journalist finds his compass point in a funky house on Nantucket and settles in for the long haul.(THOUGHTS OF HOME)(house buying)(Column)
June 1, 2005... I, THE WOULD-BE-BUYER, turned right on Coffin Street and drove down the little driveway paved with crushed clamshells. I took one glance at the strange, funky-looking house standing there, saw the dominating main room with its giant...

Giants of design.(Barbara Barry)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... RENAISSANCE WOMAN WHEN BARBARA BARRY left her southern California childhood home for college, her mother gave her a prescient piece of advice: "You're an extraordinary young woman. Don't expect an ordinary life." Barry's mother was right....

Pottery barn grand style sweepstakes.(Highlights JUNE/05)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2005... Bring grand style to your driveway--and your home. Visit www.potterybarn.com/hb and enter for a chance to win an all-new 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 plus a $3,000 gift certificate to Pottery Barn. POTTERY BARN GRAND STYLE...

House Beautiful suite opens at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.(Highlights JUNE/05)
June 1, 2005... This April, House Beautiful unveiled 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 is a...

Summer fun: designer Abby Yozell restores her grandmother's summer house on Nantucket from top to bottom but keeps a keen eye on historical accuracy.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Boston-based Yozell has fond memories of the summer vacations she spent As a child on Nantucket. "As children, my brothers, sisters, and cousins and I spent fun then and still is." After mother died nearly ten years ago at the age of 97,...

Leap of faith: while designing his Los Angeles loft, HGTV's Kenneth Brown relearns some of his own lessons.(interorir design and decorating)
June 1, 2005... The trend today is that folks are eager to be part of the decorating process," says Kenneth Brown, a California decorator and host of reDesign, a series on HGTV. "Shows like mine are tapping into people's creativity, so they want to know all...

Lush life: photographer Tim Street-Porter and interior designer Annie Kelly capture la dolce vita in a revered Hollywood home with an illustrious past.
June 1, 2005... WHEN PHOTOGRAPHER Tim Street-Porter and designer Annie Kelly bought their Hollywood house in 1989, they were enchanted by the nostalgia of an architectural bon-bon that had housed such glittering luminaries as Leonard Bernstein, Dame Judith...

Red hot: a passel of outdoor furniture in the color wheel's warmest shade will ensure the weather isn't the only thing heating up this summer.(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... This view: Wave chaise, $3,100; by Jeanne Scandura, through Float: www.floatland.com Right: Sunshine chaise, $2,095; by Lloyd Loom Italia, through Country Gear: 631-537-7069. Flo little table, $265; by Patricia Urquiola, through Luminaire:...

Seaside sanctuary: designer Robin Bell transforms an ugly duckling spec house with architectural detail and understated interiors.
June 1, 2005... FOR A NEW YORK couple with homes in Connecticut and Aspen, a prefurnished spec house in Vero Beach offered an immediate solution to their desire for a Florida foothold; a place to escape with their brood for winter weekends spent playing tennis...

Natural wonders: with high-impact, low-maintenance plantings, landscape designer Edwina von Gal takes her cue from the natural environment of Long Island.
June 1, 2005... THESE THREE LANDSCAPES BY Edwina von Gal--dramatic swaths of easy-care daylilies, goldenrod, and panicum--seem far too beautiful to describe as low-maintenance, although the landscape designer does want to liberate her clients from traditional...

American palazzo: Karen Cohen and Ani Antreasyan combine forces on Long Island to create an Italian-style villa from a house originally built to resemble a Chinese temple.(Cover Story)
June 1, 2005... KAREN COHEN AND JACK HAYFLICK had their hearts set on finding a weekend house in the Hamptons. Not just any house would do; they wanted something they could make into a small Italian villa. When they discovered a house in Watermill, New York,...

Simple sheets: the ultimate convenience food, crepes are quick to cook, can be made in advance, and form the foundation of myriad dishes, both savory and sweet.
June 1, 2005... RECIPES LADY M MILLE CREPES CAKE Adapted from the Lady M Cake Boutique, New York. Dip a knife in hot water before slicing. For the crepes: 6 tablespoons cake flour 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar 2 eggs 3 tablespoons...

Savoring summer.(summer eating)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2005... At long last, summer is here. Who doesn't enjoy this more casual time of year when making dessert is as easy as serving fresh fruit on a plate? With produce at its peak and gloriously long days, summer entertaining doesn't have to be...

Savoring summer meals.(barbecues)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2005... Great alfresco dining can be as simple as eating pizza outside or as elaborate as grilling lobster by the sea. No matter what's on the menu, every, thing tastes better outdoors. What better time to dust off the grill for a backyard barbecue?...

Savoring summer together: it doesn't get much better than being at the beach with your family on a beautiful day. Building sand castles, watching the sunset or just playing in the surf all make wonderful memories.
June 1, 2005... family fun * if you haven't spent the last few months planning elaborate summer travel, don't sweat it, Even a day trip to the beach or a barbecue in the park can offer hours of quality time with your family. * Extend any barbecue into...

Gardening's grand dame: Gertrude Jekyll's design innovations--naturalistic plantings dictated by seasonality--changed the face of the field forever.(GARDEN GODDESS)
June 1, 2005... ALTHOUGH GARDENER Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) has a name that is legendary, many stumble over its correct pronunciation (JEE-kill), much as they do over the question of her relevance to the modern American gardener. But I would argue that even...

Mayfield Leather.(BEAUTIFUL FINDS)
June 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...

Pet doors U.S.A.(BEAUTIFUL FINDS)
June 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...

Sentry Table Pad.(BEAUTIFUL FINDS)
June 1, 2005... CUSTOM TABLE PADS. Guard your table and save with custom-made table pads direct from America's oldest and largest manufacturer. Call 800-328-7237 or visit www.sentrytablepad.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Budget Blinds.(BEAUTIFUL FINDS)
June 1, 2005... Budget Blinds[R] has a great selection of window coverings, "Expert Fit" measuring and installation, FREE in-home consultation and over 800 Style Consultants nationwide. Order your FREE Design Guide at www.BudgetDesignGuide. com or call 1...

Sterling silverware for sale.(BEAUTIFUL FINDS)
June 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...

Claudio Rayes.(BEAUTIFUL FINDS)
June 1, 2005... 14 designer beds you will love and why. Request the free catalog of the Claudio Rayes bed collection and learn why interior designers love and recommend it. Helpful to make a choice. Visit: www.claudiorayes.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Clinging vines: a fanciful gesture brings a touch of summer indoors.(FINISHING TOUCH)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The jasmine was in bloom, so designer Annie Kelly cut a few lengths of the vine and spun it around a vintage Italianate chandelier in the sitting room of the Hollywood house she shares with photographer Tim Street-Porter (you can see the same...