DESIGN by SAMANTHA SPURRPHOTOGRAPHY by FRONT DOOR PHOTOGRAPHYTEXT by RICHARD LALIBERTE Starting fresh was more than an aesthetic goal, when Urvi Desai renovated her Flanders home. “In 2023, my husband passed away suddenly,” she says. “He fell on a walk and had a brain trauma that he never recovered from.” Their 21-year-old twin son and […]
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History Lives At These NJ Sites
As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, New Jersey’s historic landscape offers an inspiring connection to America’s founding era. Scattered throughout the state are distinguished homes, estates and public buildings that witnessed the drama of the Revolution while showcasing the enduring beauty of 18th-century architecture. Their walls hold stories of generals, statesmen and […]
How To Create The Perfect Star-Spangled Spread
This year, our Independence Day celebrations feel even more special. After all, we’re celebrating our country’s 250th anniversary. If you were waiting a reason to go all-out with an elegant, refined July 4 get-together, you won’t find a better one. How to do it? “I plan everything around the flag,” says entertaining expert Stephanie Nass […]
Fired Up For Summer
As June ushers in the outdoor entertaining season, New Jerseyans are once again turning their attention to the spaces that make summer gatherings memorable. Among the most coveted backyard amenities, fire features have emerged as both a design statement and a practical extension of outdoor living, creating inviting spaces where guests naturally gather long after […]
Add Texture Like A Pro
In home design, the first sense we want to engage is, of course, sight—stunning patterns and intentional colors to create a mood, artwork to dazzle and delight, windows and light fixtures to ensure everything has the perfect level of illumination. The next sense to employ? We’d argue it’s touch. After all, your home is for […]
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A Conversation With Interior Designer Diane Durocher
Why Hiring an Interior Designer Matters: Diane Durocher on Creating Homes That Work Beautifully Designing or renovating a home involves far more than selecting paint colors, furniture, and finishes. Every decision, from layout and functionality to budgeting and contractor coordination, plays a role in how successfully a project comes together. For more than 30 years, […]
Making Home Their Own
DESIGN by SOUTH MAIN DESIGNPHOTOGRAPHY by MEGHAN BALCOMTEXT by NAYDA RONDON The 1987 colonial in Bealle Mead had pleasing architecture and generous square footage. Yet after nearly a decade, its main floor still read “waiting room,” recalls Jenna Reading. When she and Amanda Downs, co-founders of Allentown-based South Main Design (SMD), arrived in early 2024 […]
New In Surf City
DESIGN by JAMES YAROSHPHOTOGRAPHY by PATRICIA BURKETEXT by NAYDA RONDON A beach house can chase the view, or it can frame a life. A five-level, 5,000-square-foot home in Surf City on Long Beach Island does both. Designed by James Yarosh—founder of Holmdel-based James Yarosh Associates Fine Art & Interior Design Gallery—this multigenerational haven puts family, […]
Set Up A ‘Jersey Friendly’ Garden
A well-kept New Jersey yard often begins with familiar intentions: a few foundation shrubs installed years ago, a stretch of turf kept green for summer gatherings, perhaps a seasonal burst of color that comes and goes with the planting calendar. Over time, though, many homeowners find themselves spending more effort—and more resources—on maintaining that traditional […]
Design For Good
Photo courtesy of Fisk Foto Who doesn’t relish a well-designed home tour? There’s nothing quite like stepping inside a thoughtfully curated space—experiencing its energy firsthand and the transportive effect of a carefully considered interior. If you’re craving just that, you can experience it five times over on June 5, all while supporting a meaningful cause. […]
Go Bold With Pattern
Outside your window, gardens are coming to life—a seasonal display of color, curated blooms and unique patterns that evolve throughout the warmer months. It’s dynamic, layered and full of energy, bringing a sense of vitality to the landscape. Have you ever wished for that same feeling indoors? You need not install a garden wall to […]