Strange Closets

I held an Emmy last summer – an actual shiny, 18K gold-plated Emmy. (It had a nice heft to it). It happened in a flash. One minute I was chatting with Julie Pinson in her and husband Billy Warlock’s Upper West Side walk-up apartment, and the next I was lunging at her 2010 Outstanding Supporting [...]

The first time I visited Europe in 2000, I took an overnight train from Copenhagen to Paris. My tiny, beautiful, old-fashioned cabin had wood paneling and bunk beds, and it was the first thing that came to mind when the uniformed bellhop opened the door to my itty bitty room last week at The Jane [...]

My flight from Chicago to New York yesterday morning was inexpensive, punctual and quick, clocking in at just over an hour and a half. So far I’m having a fantastic trip. I checked into a great little hotel (more on that later), worked for a couple of hours and met a longtime friend, Matt, for [...]

Many thanks to Modest Designs founder Hillary Keech for contributing this excellent New York City shopping guide. A veteran of design firms such as Sills Huniford and Roman & Williams, Hillary understands that high design can be achieved on any budget, and I’m looking forward to visiting some of her selections during my next visit [...]

I stumbled upon the Soho salvage store B4 It Was Cool last May, but because the showroom’s unassuming entrance lacks display windows and signage, I very nearly passed it by.  Luckily, my curiosity was piqued by the bald, tattooed, rather tough looking but smiley gentleman who sat in front of the store, enjoying the near-perfect [...]

I visited Moss during my recent Manhattan trip.  The high-end purveyor of high-end designers’ high-end designs embraces quirk, resulting in often brilliant, always thought-provoking products juxtaposing humor with sleek sophistication.  I like a little self-importance in my design destinations, especially when it’s well-deserved, and Moss doesn’t disappoint, presenting the merch behind glass cases as if [...]

When I finished interviewing last week’s Open House star Cady McClain, she surprised me by offering to show me her building’s roof, which offers spectacular Manhattan views.  Imagine watching last weekend’s fireworks from this vantage point.