Time HonoredWritten by Kaitlin Clark In a world where nearly everything is disposable and fast fashion makes up more than 10 percent of pollution worldwide, it’s becoming increasingly rare to find a company that manages to not only survive long-term but thrive. Enter: Gaggenau, the German luxury kitchen appliance brand that, in 2023, will celebrate 340 years of exploration, innovation, and excellence. Withstanding the challenges the last three centuries have brought, Gaggenau proved to be flexible, always ahead of its time and of course, grounded in novelty. “The Gaggenau story springs to life on the edge of the Black Forest in 1683 where the aristocratic ruler of the Baden region was Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden-Baden, hero of the Imperial Army,” recounts Heather Ryan, director of sales and marketing for Gaggenau North America. “It was there that he established a smelting plant and a hammer mill and nail forge in Gaggenau in 1683.” In the early 20th century, the company shifted from manufacturing high-end bicycles and enamel-swathed signage, a skill that taught the craftsmen quality and distinctive design, to enamel for ovens. This creative pivot, according to Ryan, “embodies the original spirit of German engineering in their quality, craftsmanship and precise manufacturing.” Fast forward to 1956, when a Gaggenau heir, a chef by trade, took the reins of the company and decided to provide what he himself wanted to cook with. “He paved the way for the built-in kitchen revolution and in 1956, the first built-in, eye-level oven, separate cooktop and […]View
Tranquility BaseWritten by Kaitlin Clark Photography by Keith Scott Morton It can be challenging to curate a warm, stylish home where nearly everything is hidden: kitchen appliances, storage, and shelving, all tucked away behind towering cabinetry—which also seamlessly blends into walls, barely revealing itself—but for the famed interior designer, Clodagh, that was all part of the fun. “There’s absolutely nothing out of place,” she affirms, adding that one of the top priorities for the discerning homeowners was hidden storage, lending to a minimalistic, clean kind of style. “And although everything is hidden, it’s all there—absolutely everything.” While many designers lean into all-white kitchens and grand entryways, Clodagh chose a different approach, starting with the strikingly dark foyer. “They both like dark wood and I do, too,” she says. “But we worked with lighting to make it very architectural and simple. It’s a very nice feeling when you walk in.” A tall, structural Japonesque vase was installed on the door frame with a precise rectangular trough below filled with pebbles “to bring a sense of a micro garden,” while a mirror enlarges and brightens the space. The pebble garden is a theme throughout the home, seen again in the master bathroom, evoking a genuinely calming sensibility. Walking into the kitchen, the high contrast between the sun-kissed brightness from the large—and deliberately treatment-free windows—and deep mahogany cabinetry and dining room table elicits an easy, comfortable feeling. “What’s nice about the kitchen is that it lands in the dining room with a large, beautiful […]View
Zero HourWritten by Nicole Haddad Photography by Tanveer Badal In the era of ubiquitous, interchangeable deluxe domiciles, it’s rare for a developer to build a spec home and not be conservative with materials and ideals. That wasn’t the case with Crown Pointe Estates, according to architect Doug Burdge. Led by LEED AP-certified architect Jennifer Hoppel, Burdge’s team worked on Marisol Zero One, the first in an eponymous series of four zero-carbon homes being built in the Marisol Malibu community. The developer’s underlying goal was to create California’s first zero carbon home (certification by the International Living Future Institute is expected in 2023), but it was also conceived with an eco-warrior buyer in mind who enjoys all the trappings of true luxury. The single-story, 14,429-square-foot modern ranch- style home—which employed various means to reduce, and measure embodied carbon during construction— continues to do so now to offset any remaining carbon. Sustainably-harvested FSC-certified lumber, recycled cement, all-electric systems, and a recycled aluminum roof are just the tip of the iceberg regarding responsible building—along with tapping Ventura County’s electric grid as the home’s primary energy source. Meanwhile, the interiors, outfitted largely with furniture from iconic Italian brand Poliform, exude serenity. Designed by Gail Coleman and Linda Morris of On Pointe Design, the duo wanted to cater to the idea of an entertainer’s home with expansive views of nature—vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica mountains on either side define the home and called for a minimalist approach. “We’ve always been Poliform fans […]View
Gray MatterWritten by Nicole HaddadPhotography by Dlux Editions Executing a lofty vision is not for the faint of heart as designer Andrew Suvalsky can confirm. “My client was coming from an opulent Park Avenue apartment that was very traditional and heavily ornamented—she wanted a much cleaner, more modern interior away from all the prints, colors, and trappings of her previous residence,” says Suvalsky. She also shared that she was “not the type of client that will take off to Palm Beach and come back to somebody’s vision for her.” To cater to his client’s affinity for more traditional historic furnishings, Suvalsky incorporated antiques she curated from her personal collection into the townhouse, creating a beautiful mix layered with modern, midcentury, and midcentury-inspired pieces. Besides incorporating her collection, she had a very distinct point of view. “She wanted everything gray, gray, gray—and I tend to relish color,” says Suvalsky. The directive gave the designer license to push himself, realizing “if the overall skin of the apartment was more subdued and the walls were not emphatic,” it gave him the opportunity to make the furniture stand out in an entirely different, compelling manner. On the ground level, a chic vignette in the entry foyer sets the tone for the intricate design narrative—a vintage 1940s French, Mondrian-inspired rectilinear bronze, brass, and black-painted glass console is juxtaposed with the sinewy pencil arms of Cherner pretzel chairs, two Minglike vases, gilded Empire-era sconces, and a Chagall- influenced painting. A direct view of the sleek Eggersmann kitchen—which […]View
Louisiana LagniappeWritten by Tate GunnersonPhotography by Cain Thevenot For two long years, Tracy and Wendy Young tried to persuade the owners of a primo lot overlooking a lush park not far from their home in Youngsville, Louisiana, to sell it to them. One night, the couple finally received the call they had been hoping for. “We were so excited to finally be able to start the process of something we’ve been dreaming of for so long,” Wendy says. Inspired by the clean lines and organic touches at the Bardesonno Hotel and Spa in Napa Valley, they hired architect Stephanie Potter and builders Brady and Angela Mills to bring their vision to life. The couple pictured something more contemporary than their longtime home. “We like to travel and are drawn to hotels that are a little more modern,” Wendy says. Clad with white stucco accented by black windows and cement board treated to resemble wood, the contemporary two-story abode has spacious open rooms with large expanses of glass that frame verdant park views. Indeed, before their son left for college, the plant-filled glass solarium at the front of the house was one of his favorite spots, where he often relaxed on the Eames lounge chair with his laptop to do homework or watch TikTok. Tall windows also flank the fireplace in the adjacent living room, where a low-slung green-velvet sectional sofa and a pair of brown leather swivel chairs surround a fireplace covered in black nickel gap shiplap, coordinating perfectly with the […]View
Light BrightWritten by Thomas ConnorsPhotography by Reagan Wood Dizzyingly tall and extravagantly detailed, the pinnacles that piece the Manhattan sky set a new standard for living in the city that earlier residents would deem as fantastical as a trip to the moon. But when William McKinley was in the White House, living in the likes of The Dakota or The Osborne must have struck most New Yorkers as equally unreachable. While utterly antique by many of today’s benchmarks, the grand apartments of the past never go out of style, especially when they are lovingly and intelligently re-imagined. With its ornate Renaissance-meets-Beaux-Arts profile, the 125-year-old Orleans on the Upper West Side may appear dated and stuffy, but inside, there’s a unit that shines as bright as any residence in the clouds. The work of StudioLAB, which operates from offices on Union Square, the space was fashioned from three apartments that hadn’t quite kept up with the times. Gutted and reconfigured but graced with the kind of details— herringbone floors, coffered ceilings—that echo the aesthetics of an earlier era, it combines a pre-war ambiance with crisply uncluttered contemporaneity. With four bedroom and four baths, the apartment certainly isn’t small, but as architect Matthew Miller notes, “In New York City, you’re fighting and designing every inch to get the most out of the program, so the architecture must take precedence.” Miller’s scheme, which rides on an open plan that maximizes views of the American Museum of Natural History, is adeptly scaled, generating a very […]View
Dark and LightWritten by Susan Vance Black and white has always been a popular color combination, especially in kitchens. But going completely dark, or conversely something lighter and brighter, can add real drama to everyone’s favorite room. Embracing dark or light tones in the kitchen is not as difficult as it may seem. A moody, black kitchen can include a range of tones, from deepest noir to light charcoal, as well as deep greens and blues for contrast. In a white kitchen, the same is true. Tones from pale cream to bright white can play together with gold-veined marble, or tiles with a touch of iridescent shimmer. And if a wash of monochromatic color is overwhelming, adding contrast is an easy way to break up the mood, if even for a moment. A sculptural black light in a white kitchen can add punctuation, and likewise white details in a black kitchen can add a punch of visual interest. As chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud says, “Kitchens should be designed around what’s truly important—fun, food, and life.” “If you are afraid of butter, use cream.” —Julia ChildView