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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Treat Yourself To A Self-Care Day
Summer is supposed to be the time to kick back and relax—but, let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just as hectic as the winter holidays. You’re hosting dinners and coordinating vacations and dinners, the kids are out of school or back from college and, in addition to all of that, it’s so incredibly hot out. If […]
Set The Mood With The Right Lighting
As the sun slips below the horizon, a beautifully designed patio shouldn’t disappear into the darkness—it should take on an entirely new character. Thoughtfully layered outdoor lighting transforms terraces, pool decks, gardens and dining spaces into warm, inviting retreats where conversations linger, cocktails flow and entertaining continues long after dusk. From elegant architectural fixtures and […]
5 Yards Designed To Inspire
The most memorable outdoor spaces are designed with intention, offering far more than a beautiful lawn or a collection of plantings. Today’s exceptional landscapes seamlessly blend lush gardens with thoughtfully integrated hardscape elements to create distinct destinations for relaxing, dining, entertaining and quiet reflection. By incorporating a variety of “outdoor rooms”—from inviting fire pit lounges […]
Garden Outside The Box
When you picture a garden, you probably imagine clipped hedges, orderly beds and layers of blooms framing an inviting outdoor retreat. It’s a timeless look—and one we’ll always love—but today’s most captivating landscapes often break the rules. Whether it’s sculptural plantings, unexpected color palettes or designs that blur the line between architecture and nature, an […]
Marble, She Said
Design by Exclusive Stoneworks/ Unique Pools & SpasPhotography by Jaye Avery PhotographyText by Donna Rolando As a pro interior designer, Adria Avallone had seen enough to know what she wanted—and what she didn’t want—in her family’s own outdoor entertainment project. She and her husband Anthony Dertouzos had almost limitless options, as they were starting fresh […]
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 […]
Adding Texture Like A Pro
In home design, the first sense we typically engage is sight. Thoughtfully chosen colors set the mood, artwork creates moments of interest and natural and artificial light work together to shape the atmosphere of a space. The next sense to consider? Touch. After all, a home isn’t just meant to be admired—it’s meant to be […]
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, […]