House Beautiful articles from June 2007

House Beautiful archives from June 2007

Keep your cool.(THE BEST!)(Cool Breeze fan)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... This retro-style fan, in blood orange or Caribbean blue, is handsome enough for any room, and so quiet it won't disturb an afternoon snooze. Cool Breeze fan, 11 inches tall, $75. VIVRE: 800-411-6515. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

1. Deck chair.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The French contribution to summer includes aperitifs, bikinis, and these chic Riviera-ready deck chairs, adjustable to four positions. Choose from 12 vibrant stripes in 100% cotton, removable for washing. $125. QUEL OBJET: 877-762-4499;...

2. Handles.(THE BEST!)(Acrylic Door Levers from Turnstyle Designs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The surprise of these Acrylic Door Levers is the fabric inside. Pick one of the standard patterns for $450 a pair, or take the toile off your walls and have them customized. TURNSTYLE DESIGNS: turnstyledesigns.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

3. Art book.(THE BEST!)(1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2007... A painting or two per page, plus insightful commentary, 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die, by Stephen Farthing (Universe, 2007) adds up to a rich, browsable read or an ambitious vacation guide. $35. RIZZOLI: 800-733-3000;...

4. Hostess gift.(THE BEST!)(marionberry jam from Cedar Spring Farm)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Imagine a blackberry, but deeper and more intense, which is why marionberry jam, a Northwest delicacy, has developed a cult following. $6 for a 10-ounce jar, handmade with local marionberries. CEDAR SPRING FARM: 877-485-1640;...

5. Drink mixer.(THE BEST!)(Eclectrics Double Spindle Drink Mixer)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Great news for soda fountain junkies! The commercial-grade Eclectrics Double Spindle Drink Mixer can churn out chocolate milkshakes for the kids, or keep the margaritas flowing. $170. HAMILTON BEACH: 800-851-8900; hamiltonbeach.com. ...

1. Table lamp.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... We're seeing a lot of this big, round shape, and the thumbprint pattern on the ceramic base evokes a hand-touched charm that will tweak a traditional or modern space. Amazon lamp, 26V2 inches tall, $129. CRESSWELL LIGHTING: 800-688-2579. ...

2. Citronella candles.(THE BEST!)(Citronella Torch Set)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Almost a foot high and just in time for the 4th of July, these firecracker-red candles will keep the bugs at bay. Citronella Torch Set, complete with a bucket and a bag of sand, $16.50. HARRY SLATKIN FOR BATH & BODY WORKS, AT SELECT STORES:...

3. Mini vases.(THE BEST!)(Scholar series vases)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... So tiny--less than five inches tall--but these milky porcelain vases have real presence. Exquisitely hand-painted to capture every vein in the dragonfly's wing. The Scholar series, $30 each. MIDDLE KINGDOM: 800-560-2146. [ILLUSTRATION...

4. Tray table.(THE BEST!)(Chinatown papier-mache tray with stand)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Collapsible and indispensable--especially when the party expands. Just pull out this 20-inch Chinatown papier-mache tray, $125, with its faux-bamboo stand, $75. HOME, JAMES!: 631-329-8878; homejameseasthampton.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

5. Footstool.(THE BEST!)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... This could work at the foot of a traditional wing-back chair or as an impromptu side table by an outdoor chaise longue. Great texture and that distinctive decorator's touch for only $74. Seagrass cube, 17 by 17 by 13 inches. HOMENATURE:...

Color of summer: what colors say fresh air, flowers in bloom, cool breezes, and carefree afternoons? We asked these designers to tell us their favorites.
June 1, 2007... JENNIFER GARRIGUES PORTER PAINTS PARSLEY TINT 6998-1 This pale aqua green is like the ocean when it's so clear you can see the sand through the water. It reminds me of holidays and sunshine and how calm you feel when you sit on the shore...

Instant room Jamie Drake: interior designer Jamie Drake is Mr. Color. See how a master puts it all together using fabrics from his like-no-other new collection.
June 1, 2007... HOW HE'D DO IT Jamie Drake doesn't hold back in this proposed living room using fabrics from his new collection for Schumacher. Gem-toned CABOCHON (1) goes on the Tailleur Sofa, part of Drake's furniture collection for Lewis Mittman....

I want to buy a sunburst mirror: eagle-eyed Carol Prisant shows us what to look for.(COLLECTING)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... A LITTLE BACKSTORY Like the sun, sunburst mirrors are hot, hot, hot! They haven't been this hot since the 1950s, and after that--pardon the pun--they were pretty much in eclipse. But they're shining once more, and every smart decorator is...

I'm looking for a nightstand: which one would you like to sleep next to?(FURNITURE)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... 1. AUDREY NIGHTSTAND, $598. Anthropologie: www.anthropologie.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2. SHAKER NIGHTSTAND in Vert Sauge. $2,020. Grange: 800-472-6431. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3. CARRIAGEWAY NIGHTSTAND from the Katonah...

The Makeover Part 1: The Floors: at age 55, interior designer T. Keller Donovan has just bought his first house. In this new HB series, we'll follow him through the renovation. This month: refinishing the floors.(Interview)
June 1, 2007... Why this house? Charm! I was in West Palm Beach, saw the For Sale sign, and did a U-turn. I wasn't actively looking for a house, although I needed more space. I've been doing more business in Florida, and I've had to set up a work space in...

The daily green: House Beautiful looks at the stylish side of green living with Deborah Jones Barrow, who's just started a new Web site. The Daily Green.(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... COUNT YOUR CARBS FOOTPRINT No, not those carbs--your carbon footprint. That's the amount of carbon dioxide you send forth every time you drive or fire up your dishwasher or heat your swimming pool. Calculate your carbon footprint at...

Technophobia text messaging: you see people doing it all the time, but you have no idea what texting is all about. David Pogue, technology columnist for The New York Times.
June 1, 2007... I'm probably the last person on the planet who doesn't send text messages from my cell phone. What am I missing? You can communicate spontaneously while on the go. Since the message is typed, there are no ringing phones to disturb others....

What's beautiful now? What American style? House Beautiful wants to take a snapshot of your likes, your dislikes, your tastes, your dreams.
June 1, 2007... THE TV HOME I WOULD MOST WANT TO LIVE IN BELONGS TO: a. Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty b. Charlotte York in Sex and the City c. Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos d. Bree Hodge in Desperate Housewives e. Nora Walker in...

Ask the Barefoot Contessa: you'll want to try Ina's entire menu once you've tasted her Greek gazpacho.
June 1, 2007... Q I'm having a crowd for Memorial Day weekend and I want to make something special that I can prepare in advance. Can you suggest a menu? A When I have a large party, I need a menu that does two things: everything can be made in large...

Cookbook: our reviewer makes the happy discovery that Lidia's Italy, by the restaurateur and cooking show host Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, is not just another Italian cookbook.(Book review)
June 1, 2007... THE FORMAT OF Lidia's Italy, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich's latest cookbook, makes more sense when you understand that it is a companion piece to her popular public television series of the same name. The book is divided into 10 chapters which,...

A deep calm: white, taupe, cream and a touch of blue and green. What could possibly be more peaceful?(Lighten Up!)(Christopher Maya)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... CHRISTOPHER PETKANAS: You make a very persuasive case for a pale, soft-spoken palette. For all its mutedness, it stills feels fresh, even rich. CHRISTOPHER MAYA: Because the owners of this new house in New Jersey have two young boys, I...

Keeping it simple: bare floors, unlined curtains: get real bungalow style.(Lighten Up!)(Chad Eisner)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... CAROL PRISANT: Except for all that fabulous light, it's hard to believe that this is a California beach house. CHAD EISNER: My client and I wanted something different from the usual beige Orange County decor. But you don't have to paint...

Water color: nothing evokes the ocean like a house of powdery blues. You can live on the water no matter where you are.(Lighten Up!)(Ruthie Sommers)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... FRANCES SCHULTZ: This diminutive--and extraordinary--late-18th-century house was restored several years ago by the previous owner, Steven Gambrel, who is an incredible interior designer and architect, a tough act to follow. You live in L.A.,...

Sheer now: translucent fabrics have a new glamour. No plain Janes here. Our favorites have pattern, texture, and above all, personality.(Lighten Up!)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... BREEZE CHECK (OPPOSITE) in Blue Jane Churchill through Cowtan & Tout: 212-647-6900. PUSSY WILLOW (THIS PAGE) in Pond Blossom. Calvin Fabrics: 888-732-1996. PAINTED SIDE TABLE FROM THE SHOP: 877-466-7467. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

See-through: how do you deal with living in a glass box? Add more glass.(Lighten Up!)(David Easton)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... DAVID COLMAN: You've always been associated with traditional ease and elegance. So it's surprising that you've done an apartment in a modernist glass tower by Richard Meier. Traditionalism meets modernism. How did it come about? DAVID...

Living color: start with blue and white, add big splashes of red, and bring on the flowers of summer.(Lighten Up!)(Meg Braff)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... MIMI READ: These days, the beau ideal of the summer house is pale, casual, and spare. Yet you've decorated your family's 1882 Newport summer house in rich layers of color and artifice. Why? MEG BRAFF: The decor may not be weightless, but it...

Los Angeles: in his own kitchen, designer Michael S. Smith goes for a classic English look, with the kind of patina that suggests it has been there forever.(KITCHEN OF THE MONTH)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... CHRISTINE PITTEL: You tore down a 1950s ranch and built a classic English house. How would you describe the kitchen? MICHAEL S. SMITH: It's not pretty English, it's more masculine English. My favorite rooms in English houses are entrance...

The look kitchen of the month: corner cupboard ... Dutch doors ... aromatic herbs ... hand-thrown pots. Here's how you can create the classic look of Michael S. Smith's English-style kitchen.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... 1. You don't need a big kitchen to get a serious COMMERCIAL-STYLE RANGE. The 36" Blue Star Heritage Classic has a convection oven, a pro-style raised griddle broiler, and one of the most powerful burners on the market--22,000 BTUs. In 190...

Ask the dog shrink: CDs to relieve her fear and trembling ... toys that will occupy your dog for hours.
June 1, 2007... QA My dog is terrified of fireworks. I'm already dreading the 4th of July because she'll cower and quake, and there'll be no consoling her. Is there anything I can do to help her? THERE IS A TECHNIQUE called sound desensitization that works...

The last words: how do you make a room feel light and summery? Mimi Read asks these experts.
June 1, 2007... "Why not set a gorgeous summer table? Down the middle of the table, I'd line up the most beautiful hand-blown bottles in opaque whites, translucent browns and pinks And since nothing breathes summer to me more than real garden roses, I'd put a...