Summer Entertaining

This kitchen opens onto a beautiful outdoor area with a lovely pass-through, creating a wonderful area for serving, and also a great bar for parties!

This is definitely a feature I'd love to have in a beach house, and I especially love this beautiful bright white exterior. Mediterranean chic at its best...And that lounge chair upstairs is calling my name!

Image via Splendid Willow. 

The City Version

Yesterday, I wrote about my dream of living in a house outside the city with huge black windows. Well, today I thought I would share two amazing homes in the city that can offer the same amazing light and space.

These first two images are from an East Village home designed by Annabelle Selldorf (interestingly, she is the architect behind many of the most prominent art galleries, including Acquavella, David Zwirner, Gladstone, Hauser & Wirth, as well as the Neue Galerie). I adore the high ceilings and bright exposure in both rooms!

The second two images are from an unfurnished Upper East Side townhouse currently on the market for $15 million. Aren't the two kitchens surprisingly similar in layout and design? I prefer the warmth of the butcher's block island top and arched windows in the Selldorf design...But I would sure take either!

All images via CocoCozy here and here.

Paint It Black

I love our Manhattan apartment, but I always dream about having a home filled with amenities that are far too scarce in New York. From the practical (a yard, a laundry room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms...), to the luxurious, like a sun-soaked kitchen and living room. If I were designing a house, it would surely include the biggest windows possible to fill the space with natural light. In particular, I would love to have these black frame windows, which add the most amazing sophistication and architectural detail to the rooms around them.

Thinly framed large window panels look especially good in black. They complement both old and new homes, and set the most pleasing tone for the space. For me, this is interior perfection!

Image one via Studio William Hefner; Image two via La Dolce Vita; Image three via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles; Image four via Mike Hammersmith; Image five via House Beautiful; Image six via Effigy of Life; Image seven via Elle Decor.

Culinary Ideals

I think the thing that I miss the most about life outside the city is a big kitchen. My apartment has a galley-style kitchen that can comfortably fit one cook, but for two people it's just tight (which so many New Yorkers can understand!). As my collections of serveware and glassware grow, I dream of a huge room that can can happily fit me, my dinnerware, as well as all of my family and guests. And, while dreaming, whose cooking areas are more inspirational than Martha Stewart's...

Glass cabinets (like in image two) are at the top of my list for my future dream kitchen. I also love the open cabinetry that Martha uses throughout her homes, but that glass cabinet in her Bedford kitchen is swoon-worthy. Also, the custom nooks and crannies that create practical storage that can be accessed at a moment's notice would be a welcome addition to any house. Not to mention that all of the spaces are bathed in grey and white, my favorite color scheme!

All images from Martha's homes and show set via MarthaStewart.com, Designs by Martha Stewart.

China, Silver, and Glass, Oh My!

What I would give to raid this butler's pantry!

Eddie Ross (who was once the food editor at Martha Stewart Living as well as the Associate Decorating editor at House Beautiful) and his partner Jaithan Kochar create the most amazing spaces. I cannot wait to share more of their homes and collections with you (and trust me, there will be much more on these two), but for today, here is a tease!

Image via Lonny October/November 2009, Design by Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar, Photographer: Patrick Cline

Happy Friday!

May your weekend bring you all the fun of this kitchen! Wouldn't this be perfect for a beach house? I'm imagining views of the rolling ocean from those big windows...

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