Category Archives: Uncategorized

I am often asked to describe or define a “luxury” bath.  There is, of course, no one answer to that difficult and subjective question. But here is my opinion.  Luxury is never about how much money is spent. It is about the wise and comfortable use of proportion and scale, meticulous installation, well-articulated architectural details, functionality and the accessories used to personalize the bath. And, it doesn’t matter if the space is large or small. The important factors are: clean and classic lines, quality materials, artisanal craftsmanship, elegant and nuanced surfaces, and outstanding functionality.

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The new or renovated all-white kitchen has become ubiquitous! I was recently on the jury for New York Cottages and Gardens design awards. It was difficult to find the definitive winner in the kitchen category. They were all well designed, functional and attractive. But, it was hard to distinguish one from the other with their Carrara marble counters and matching backsplashes. With that in mind, I went looking for examples of kitchens where dark cabinetry, tiles, counters, walls or floors added a bit of drama.

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Several months ago I received a very small and precious book as a gift. It was the collaborative work of the design firm McAlpine Tankersley Architecture. Photographed in black and white, poetic and thoughtful, the book is a testament to their love of creating homes. The spirit of the firm is to build houses with references to the past and a nod to the future. Following is a post from Greg Tankersley:

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I am sure many of you flew to Paris to attend the renowned gift fair, Maison d’Object. I, too, was there for the first time in many years. Personally, I did not find as much inspiration as I’d hoped although some old favorites continue to capture my attention. I think we can all agree there is a plethora of very ordinary “stuff” in the market and finding inspiration is one of the delightful challenges of attending the Gift Show in New York or Maison.

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