D2S Editor Favorites

Favorite New Building (Coming Attraction)

We're big fans of Frank Gehry, and his Beekman Tower development, 76 floors of residential living in downtown Manhattan, is clean, muscular, and practical. We also think his choice of iCrete is green and pure genius (it emits only half the carbon of regular concrete). We can already see a few floors starting to poke out of the ground near the close-to-Ground-Zero construction site.

Favorite Holiday Gift Idea

With less than 100 shopping days left for the winter holidays, why don't you make a keepsake book of your house or garden for your family and friends? Make your own bookstore-quality books tonight with Blurb's free BookSmart software from Design2Share. Buy just one or many; prices start at $12.95. Just download the free Blurb BookSmart software application (for Mac or PC), then drag and drop photos, blogs, recipes, text, whatever you've got -- into layouts designed by commercial book designers. It's time to share your house and garden with others. Get Started Now!

Favorite Book

We're not a bit prejudiced. You can't go wrong with our new Design2Share book, My House Projects: Great Designs for Everyday Life. Compiled by our creative director Irwin Weiner ASID, the book includes two of Irwin's projects where he brought outdoor elements into a New York penthouse and a Hampton's oceanfront home, as well as other articles, including (starting with the top photo): designer Oskar Torres' Asian-inspired bedroom makeover, a look at Barbara and Robert Tiffany's award-winning Spirit Song furniture line, Julia Broder's Luxe Properties house tour of a new-construction estate in the Northeast, great outdoor antiques (like this 1800s horse and rider weathervane) paired with fine art from Bond & Bowery dealers, and designer Jennifer Mitchell's spotlight on Valcucine and how their latest Milan exhibit underscores all-new trends in kitchen design. 

Favorite Lighting

The Scheisse Light from Norway's Northern Lighting was named for the expletive one says when you've just dropped and exploded a lightbulb. Clever name, cool light.

Favorite 2008 Kips Bay Show House Rooms

There was much debate over the best of the best rooms at the Kips Bay Show House this year, but we narrowed it down to (top to bottom): Sara Bengur Interiors cozy and eclectic breakfast room seating arrangement, Geoffrey Bradfield's eye-popping library with fashion-forward contemporary Asian art, and the glam metallic wall treatment made from tin can lids in White Webb's bedroom.

Favorite Bench

We're not sitting on the fence when we recommend Wisteria's factory chic French Industrial Locker Room Bench. Use it by your pool or in a bathroom, dressing area, home gym, or mudroom. 

Favorite Console

 

One of our moms used to glue seashells to everything, from picture frames and mirrors to headboards. We find that same daft, homemade, zany flair in Currey & Company's Seaside Console Table. We urge you to buck today's home trend to go Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel with your entire "look"; instead, mix it up with an assortment of interesting pieces like this console.