We fondly remember our time living in New York’s West Village—so much so that we named this blog after our cross streets. We miss the charming, tree-lined avenues, the beautifully restored brownstones, and neighborhood institutions like Garber Hardware, which has served Manhattan and the West Village since 1884. Nathaniel Garber Schoen currently runs Garber Hardware. … Read more
As unprecedented numbers of people approach age 65 in the coming years, Universal Design is becoming a central topic in home construction and remodeling. Universal Design focuses on improving a home’s accessibility and functionality so it can accommodate all residents, including those with mobility challenges or disabilities. What makes Universal Design so appealing is that … Read more
Fans of Mad Men and vintage Hollywood interiors have a unique opportunity to own pieces from the show’s set while supporting a worthy cause. A charity auction on eBay is raising funds for the City of Hope cancer hospital, offering an array of authentic props, costumes, and furniture used on the series. The headline item … Read more
Dwell on Design continues to grow even as other trade shows shrink. While not enormous, the show is carefully curated, featuring vendors and products that look as if they belong in the pages of Dwell magazine—many likely do. This year the show included more established brands, especially in the kitchen and bath category, with notable … Read more
Last year Kohler introduced the NUMI, a high-end smart toilet, and at this year’s Kitchen and Bath Show the company unveiled VibrAcoustic technology applied to its Underscore bath collection. So what is VibrAcoustic? Simply put, it combines sound, water vibration and lighting to create a deeply immersive bathing experience. Vibroacoustic technology delivers sound therapy that … Read more
Our family loves road trips. Living in Los Angeles gives us countless day-trip options and plenty of fun weekend getaways. Before any journey, however short or long, we always make sure our vehicles are in good condition and that our auto protection plan coverage is current. We own three vehicles, each suited to a different … Read more
I was delighted when I found Amy Devers’ new “Hands On” column in ReadyMade magazine. Watching her walk two Brooklyn residents through the process of hanging art and pictures on a tough concrete wall felt reassuring and practical.
In my loft, one of the long walls is exposed brick, and that kind of surface makes hanging frames, dry-erase boards, or even neon signs a real challenge.
We avoid buying bottled water for environmental and cost reasons, especially since much bottled water is essentially the same as tap water. Still, we prefer filtered tap water because it reduces sediment and improves taste and odor by removing chlorine and other common contaminants. For years we used a pour-through filtered pitcher, which worked well … Read more
A wood-burning sauna is the ultimate winter indulgence. While hot tubs offer unmistakable health benefits and simple pleasures, their close cousin—the sauna—deserves equal attention for the restorative experience it provides. I grew up around dads who loved saunas and had them installed at home. This barrel-style wood-burning sauna in the Berkshires raises that tradition to … Read more
A relaxing family weekend at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks almost ended on Sunday night because of three terrifying words: full septic tank. A mistaken appraisal had misstated the tank’s capacity, and after 13 people used the facilities over the weekend, the system failed. Once a plumber diagnosed the issue, a pump truck was called … Read more