Cottages & Gardens

C&G Shop the Look: A Spacious Den with Earth-Tones Accents

A Connecticut home awash in pastels gets a healthy does of chocolate-brown and burnt-orange accents in order to maintain a level of sophistication that is characteristic of designer Susan Bednar Long. Here, inspired pieces in a similar color palette.

Photography by John Gruen

Susan Bednar Long Uses a Palette of Pastels to Create Sophisticated, Unified Interiors in This Shingle-Style Weekend Getaway

Interior designer Susan Bednar Long probably would not claim color as her strongest suit. Sure, her projects feature well-integrated threads of blue here and some bold red accents there. But by her own admission, she’s no Jamie Drake (well known for his exuberant palettes). So, when a New York City couple tapped Long to design a weekend getaway that felt nothing like their full-time Tribeca digs, a monotone study in gray, she took a giant step outside her comfort zone.

By Mindy Pantiel | Photography by John Gruen

Designer Robin McGarry Fills a Family Home with Lively Color and Sumptuous Textures

Thanks to Netflix, we know that orange is the new black. But a vibrant house proves that orange isn’t alone: Apple green, Chinese red and a host of other colors are having their moment. “I’ve always enjoyed a lot of color—probably overdone it!” says the homeowner. “And I’ve always had color where I lived, but have played with different spectrums.” When she and her family moved into a traditional shingle-style house, she wanted to belie its traditional exterior with a bold statement inside. “When I looked for a designer,” she says, “I focused on designers who used colors I liked.”

By Alexa Stevenson | Photography by George Ross

Combine These 10 Ingredients for a Hassle-Free Kitchen

Say ciao to your favorite barista with Thermador’s built-in fully automatic coffee machine, kiss cabinet clutter goodbye with Porcelanosa’s plate drawer organizers crafted from wood and stainless steel, and display your fire saftey tools with pride thanks Boffi’s Minimal series domestic extinguisher. Each of these stylish design objects make for a hassle-free kitchen.

Produced by Ann Loynd

Cool Whites Begone: This Year's Biggest Trend in Kitchen Design is Heading into the Woods for a Warmer Shade of Pale

A place for everything and everything in its place was the mantra for this kitchen by Rose Adams of Rose Adams Cabinetry & Design, who loves the challenge of working with an older home. A total redesign of the existing space involved removing everything down to the existing framing, then adding new plumbing, appliances, lighting, windows, venting system, storage and more. “We kept the existing floor,” says Adams. “It’s in keeping with the house and runs in the downstairs mudroom. It’s timeless and looks amazing—a must-keep.”

By Catriona Branca | Photographs by Robert Grant, Kyle Norton, Huyla Kolabas

Reflections on Art Basel 2014

Over 73,000 people crowded into Art Basel Miami last month browsing through works displayed in the main show, satellite fairs, museums, gardens all over town. We asked some prominent designers and one of our editors to pick out and describe some items that caught their particular attention.

By Sharon King Hoge

Elegant Yet Playful Details Define This Updated 19th-Century Fairfield County Victorian

When it was time for one Fairfield County couple to buy a bigger home to accommodate their growing family, they set their sights on a 19th-century Victorian with good bones. That was important to them, because they were more interested in renovating the existing structure than starting from scratch. We love old houses, says the wife. And we could never imagine tearing one down. Originally built in the 1860s, the house had undergone multiple renovations and expansions over the years--and it showed. It was a shell of its former self, says McKee (Mac) Patterson, whose firm, Austin Patterson Disston Architects spearheaded the transformation.

By Jamie Marshall | Photography by Tria Giovan