Well Played, Town & Country

Everyone's seen the big news. I think Town and Country made a genius move hiring Stephen Drucker. I've always adored him, then I met him and my adoration only grew. He's a real gentleman and I love his positive attitude and commitment to innovative design. So Mr. Drucker will be moving from House Beautiful to Town and Country, and while I'll of course still be a subscriber to HB, they've just gained one more subscriber at T & C.

I've purchased the magazine from time to time when something in it interested me but I just know that Stephen Drucker will do great things with it (not that it's not already great). They have lovely spreads of delicious fragrances.

I picked up a copy of it over the weekend and it just happened to be the Home Issue! There SO MANY great articles featuring great homes and great designers. Here is a page of design trends!

They even managed to endear me to Swarovski crystal designer, Nadja Swarovski and her family. A little overboard on the zebra but I still like it and I love these adorable pink paisley pillows up on the sofa.

My favorite spread in the May Issue was the Michael Smith home that he designed for his friend Katherine Chez. Michael smith managed to make a 625 square foot living room seem cozy and the tiny bedrooms seem large but the whole home is cohesive and comfortable. Note the swoon worthy de Gournay wallpaper in the dining room which is also in the bedroom.

This is part of the living room. I'm enamored with the Beauvais carpet and the french doors leading to the hall. Notice how the lantern in the hall reflects the dining room table.

Yes, those are my fingers (and chipped nail polish) to the left. This aaaamazing hall with the most beautiful salmon pink painted walls is designed by Gil Schaefer.

The other incredible spread that caught my eye was the home that Katie Ridder designed for her parents. She designed their 4th or 5th home; this time on the Coast of California. She infused her signature classic style with an Eastern influence into this home set on a golf course.

Sorry for the icky pictures (except for the hot one above), but I don't have a scanner so I had to photograph them my digital camera. I've read this issue cover to cover twice and I'm not embarrassed. Anyway, my point is that I adore Stephen Drucker and I think he'll be great at Town and Country. I also think Newell Turner is going to be great at House Beautiful. What do you guys think? Are you in? I just sent in my subscription card for Town and Country--so excited!


PS- There will be a giveaway later this week! It's going to be great!!

Alicia B.

Thank you, Stephen Drucker.

Designing a space often times means coming up with a new and exciting way of placing furniture and accessories throughout the room. Stephen Drucker, however, makes a very excellent point in the latest House Beautiful that sometimes trying to do something new, you can run into trouble with a difficult floor plan or something of that sort. Basically he's saying, why change something good if it already works. There's a reason that it works in the first place. For example, the living room. You have a sofa up against one of the walls for a reason; people prefer it that way. Why put a chair in the middle of the room just to be different?--it breaks up the traditional seating arrangement. Enjoy.

Despite my admiration for Windsor Smith, in actuality I don't think that this works. A trestle table in the middle of the living room with two bulky armless sofas? Not comfortable or easy to maneuver.

A sofa with its back against the window is a great idea. Easy seating arrangement and enough space to put things like drinks or books. Alex Papachristidis.

Even with a contemporary style like in Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan's new home, a traditional seating arrangement works. Sofa against the wall and two chairs flanking.

Thom Filicia created this cozy arrangement with the sofa off in the little nook, double table to make one coffee table and two chairs. He worked with the space that he was given to make this work. Make it work!

Michael Smith. This idea even works in a bedroom if you have enough space (good for you).

Of course, a Todd Romano. Doesn't this look so comfortable--yet not too traditional and boring!

As Michael Smith said, "When I'm designing a living room, I naturally want to put a sofa against a wall and two chairs opposite it. Some designers might find that boring. The reality is, its soothing. Most people prefer it that way." Well said! Thoughts anyone?


Alicia B.

I heart Stephen Drucker

This little cutie is the Editor in Chief of House Beautiful which is my absolute fave design mag. Its pretty much genius. I just picked up a the September Issue the "Fall Color Issue." I adore color, in design and fashion. I pretty much don't feel right if I'm only wearing black white or grey--I'm not a real New Yorker I guess.


Anyway, I'm proud to say that I've met Stephen Drucker and he is so sweet (I think he might have been into me...haha) ! Hes very humble, almost shy and very thoughtful. He listens to other people which I think is quite rare in a designer. After googling him to find that fab picture above I found this old Apartment Therapy interview with him.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-interviews/at-interviews-stephen-drucker-019101 Here is the Interview below...


1. What's the smallest home youve ever lived in?

A basement studio at 28 Grove Street in Greenwich Village. Never had a bad moment there.

2. Whats the last thing you bought for your own home?

Search grand tour intaglios on eBay and youll see.

3. If you had to furnish one room in your own home from scratch all from one source, what would it be?

Ruby Beets in Sag Harbor, NY.

4. Whats your favorite spot in your own home?

My desk. Sitting there, youd swear you were in London.

5. How often do you cook?

Most Saturday nights.

6. Whats the one thing you couldnt live without?

My Bose iPod dock.

7. Where should people splurge in their homes? Where should they save?

A decorator once told me, it isnt the first $1000 that makes a room, its the last $100. (In other words, its not the sofa, its the small stuff.)

8. What designer do you most admire?

Billy Baldwin.

9. What makes a home comfortable?

Using things. If youre afraid of it, get rid of it.

(interview from www.Apartmenttherapy.com)


I just love how real and somewhat practical he is. He doesn't pretend that he cooks gourmet meals every night, clearly doesn't have frivolous useless things in his house and he has an ipod! So cute! I wonder how I'd answer some of those questions...anyone?




Alicia B.