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.

D2S Editor Favorites

Favorite Chairs

We have fallen deeply in love with these Tie Chairs, crafted by Alabama Chanin. These are recycled ladderback chairs dating from the 1920s to the 1970s and they've woven funky ties to the seats and added carved sayings on the backs. Each chair is unique, and we can't resist. It's nice to see products that shun mass-produced looks.

Favorite Event

Experience a fascinating self-guided driving tour through Central Bucks County. Explore six sites of fine architecture, environmental, interior, and landscape design. As a final treat, ticket-holders are invited to enjoy a catered networking reception courtesy of Cote Catering, Chaddsford Winery, and The Bucks County Riverboat and Trolley Companies. For more information call the Chamber at 215-348-3913,email info@centralbuckschamber.com, or visit the event site.

Favorite Article

The New York Times came out with a fantastic article that we highly recommend for all homeowners who would seriously like to consider art and antiques as more than a hobby. Read Passion and Prudence, The Secrets to Collecting. (Pictured above, Leslie Keno of Sotheby's, a NY Times photo by Tony Cenicola)

Favorite Charitable Way to Shop

Nest is a non-profit organization that makes loans to women artisans around the world to create unique products that they then sell to repay the loans and help the artisans earn a sustainable living. Shop for hundreds of articles like (top to bottom) a Tanzanian basket, a Mexican leaf bowl, or Henry Road pillows. You'll also find the works of U.S. designers who are donating 25% of their revenue to Nest's mission.

Favorite Tricked-Out Doors

The folks at Philip Watts Design have developed a great business putting together fittings, fixtures, and accessories for the home, specializing in modern stairs and in porthole kits for doors. Some of their portholes are shown above, helping turn ordinary doors into nautical or just plain funky peek-through experiences.

Favorite Girl's Bed

It's difficult to find that blend of sophistication and youth needed in a young girl's bed, but Lea's Jessica McClintock Youth Collection strikes some pretty solid notes to us. Pictured above is the Tester bed.

Favorite Book

We love Aronzi Aronzo's whacko designs from Japan, and The Bad Book is now translated into English. Be prepared for some great laughs in a stylish and unusual addition to any coffee table!

Favorite Candidates' Houses

There has been much made of where this year's presidential candidates live. The top photo shows the Obama family's home in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood while the bottom photo shows one of the McCain family homes (this one is in Arizona).