Category: Kitchens

I’m dreaming of a White Kitchen …

Gwyneth Paltrow’s New York Kitchen. Vogue Photo, via Hooked on Houses

This year, House Beautiful declared the kitchen as “America’s New Living Room”, and I think that’s an accurate statement. The kitchen is where we gather with our friends and families, and share our “joie de vivre” while we savor its special moments. Here’s a few white kitchen ideas that will make you dream in living color.

Minimalist cabinets, modern furniture, traditional ceiling & lighting, 
classic herringbone floors equals Chic, Chic, Chic
 Instantly update your modernist status with these clean lines, white orchards,
and these bigger than life light fixtures.
 The small black touches throughout this space certainly add to the beauty of this minimalist kitchen.
The look is clean, yet it’s by no means frigid.
This kitchen tends to remind me of watching a futuristic movie with no end on site.
 Speaking of futuristic kitchens…
The many textures seen here certainly shake things up, and break up the continuance of the white palette. The metal table is a sight to behold
Love the Eames chairs. They add a firm structure and stability to a space otherwise not very memorable

Photos via Minimalisti.com

NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.

High End Weekly’s Year on Art, Design, and Fashion

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn tops our Number 10 List this year as the most popular post. No surprise there. She was the face of grace and elegance, and everything stylish. And eventhough she exited the world’s stage in 1993, she remains an inspiration and role model for millions of women all over the world.

Other memorable stories were my Q&A with furniture designer John Lyle, my series on the awesome works of Fernand Léger, The Kips Bay Decoration Showhouse, and more.


No. 2
Higher Grounds: Twiggy with Richard Avedon

What strikes me the most about Twiggy is that she has remained strong and confident throughout her career, and her popularity hasn’t waned as seasons passed. This is quite a feat considering that most models and actors usually do not experience this outcome.

No. 3
A pretty pair of pink wing chairs from Leah Antiques, as well as painting of Joan Collins from the early 1960’s take center stage in this exceedingly lively room. 
No wonder Joan Collins chose John Lyle to design her New York City apartment, as she got ready to sell it through Core Real Estate. He is so intuitive, plus it doesn’t hurt to have a marvelous eye for great design.
No. 4
Fernand Léger
Fernand Léger’s work in the 1920s made his international reputation. They combined that certain quality of surrealism and the strong characteristic of the plain forms which he came to be known for.
No. 5
Eileen Gray Transat Chair
As an architect, Eileen Gray designed and furnished herself a new home, Tempe à Pailla, outside Menton, France. That building is an icon of Modernist architecture, and the design was an awesome example of form meets function.
No. 6
Composition, 1940 – 1942, oil on canvas – Fernand Léger
Image via 1artclub
With all the glory that later came as being a blue chip artist, Fernand Léger’s career spaned from early investigations of painting as a means of capturing modern sensations in abstract and near abstract dynamic compositions to heroic images of common life.

No. 7
Furniture trends tend to follow not just changing tastes, but changing needs as the ways in which we live our lives alter over time.
No. 8
Custom made red Zig Zag table stands as a tribute to the late designer Albert Hadley
Raji Radhakrishman’s Le Bureau Privé
The Curator’s Office
No. 9
Metal Boy Cabinet
Most Americans would agree that the kitchen is one of the most important room in a house, and should be treated as such. And de Giulio is happy to prove that point by providing them with some of the most inspiring kitchens to “live with”.

No. 10
Christian Deydier, Corice Arman, Xavier Samson
A global group of esteemed guests both from the US and France, gathered at the French Consulate in March 2012 to celebrate the official announcement of the Biennale des Antiquaires which took place on September 14 through the 23rd.

America’s New Living Room

House Beautiful 5th Annual Kitchen of the Year Design by Mick De Giulio

July 16 – 20, 2012 at Rockefeller Center

One of the best part of House Beautiful’s latest event is its location. It must have been very exciting for them to construct a kitchen in the middle of Rockefeller Center – which happens to be a Mecca for Art Deco.

From Left: Sean Sullivan, Newell Turner, Kate Kelly Smith, and Mick De Giulio

This year’s honor for Kitchen of the Year went to Chicago-based kitchen designer Mick De Giulio (www.degiulio.org) for his experience and for the style and flair that he continues to display throughout all his projects.

I find it amazing that in the middle of a sidewalk in NYC, one can be transported to an open, modern, and inviting kitchen. The varieties of counter tops and materials that Mick has chosen gave me plenty of inspirations. The overall feel of this “fisherman cottage kitchen” is comfort, and charm. House Beautiful declared that the kitchen is America’s new living room, and judging from the looks of this one, I say they’re right on target.

House Beautiful editor in chief Newell Turner, with Kate Kelly Smith, SPV of Publishing

Mick De Giulio is known nationwide for his “dream kitchens”
Designer of House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year 
From July 16th through the 20th, Rockefeller Plaza has become the prime spot for innovative presentations on the most influential design trends, interactive programs with designers, craftsmen and lifestyle leaders, and up-close culinary demonstrations from an incredible array of celebrated and innovative chefs who have been invited to take this kitchen for a spin. Daily cooking shows are conducted now until Friday, July 20th. When asked to describe his design philosophy, De Giulio responded, “I believe a great kitchen has a magic to it that transforms the physical room into a feeling. People are drawn to that kitchen, and they may not know why. The kitchen sings. It is my job to write the music. I may call myself a kitchen designer, but what I really do is orchestrate and conduct the dreaming process.”
Dinning Area of The Kitchen of the Year
This spot is my favorite section of the kitchen – I loved the Ralph Lauren Light Fixture!
 Michael Aram Vases
 Meet The Press
Gabrielle Hamilton, Chef/owner of Prune
House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year is located at Rockefeller Center, 51 Street
Between 5th & 6th Avenue. For more images, visit us at www.facebook.com/highendweekly
All images courtesy House Beautiful

de Giulio’s Beautiful Kitchen Design

There was a time not so very long ago when homeowners had to settle for the standard white oak, pine or soft maple cabinets in their kitchens. Even though the quality of those woods were good, the overall aesthetic was of an acquired taste. As an interior designer, I’ve advised my clients to run from the typical vanilla box kitchens with their shiny, overloaded stainless steel accessories. The kitchen is one of the most important room in a house, and should be treated as such. Overlooking the obvious can sometimes cost you thousands, if not millions of dollars, when the time comes to sale or rent your home.
Metal boy cabinet by de Giulio
Nowadays, the choice of kitchen designs and cookware have proliferated beyond belief. There is an abundance of kitchen stores, specializing in Italian, German, Swedish, or French designs. And quite frankly, most of them have morphed into this idea of what a beautiful kitchen should be, and not necessarily taking functionality into consideration. Good design is crucial. And while I realized what you have in your kitchen is very much a personal choice, depending on how you live and what you like to cook, I encourage you to think carefully about functionality. That is why I favor the new Metal Boy from De Giulio. The Metal Boy is the most recent addition to an extensive collection of signature products designed by the US company. It is an inventive alternative to the traditional pot rack. This new cabinet combines enclosed storage for pots, pans, lids, baking sheets, and dishes with modern form and high-functionality.

details of the Metal Boy Cabinet

Crafted in distressed nickel silver, highly-polished stainless steel, ebonized walnut, and glass, the cabinet is an innovative design element that will be the showstopper in a kitchen design, and it is complete with LED lighting which accentuates the beauty and sculptural form of the interior cabinet. It is perfect for those of you who are considering environmental issues, when building a new kitchen. Shop this exclusive design while you visit LuxeHome at the Merchandise Mart, in Chicago. The kitchen design is on display at de Giulio’s showroom. This could be a beautiful beginning of becoming a domestic goddess (or god).

Opening Doors

Doors that celebrate Food!
Exterior doors may be the first thing you notice when you enter a house, but interior doors can be quite striking, especially when they’re magnificently crafted with some of the world’s most decorative materials – and wordings.

Satinato frosted culinaria edition

The unique Culinaria door collection from Bartels Doors comes in frosted and clear glass, and speaks to your senses in languages such as German, Italian, and French.   How fabulous! I adore this collection because since these are interior doors, the privacy issue is less important, and you get to add a polished decorative element in your kitchen.  The wordings on these high-end kitchen doors can help you make those dinner decisions without a moment’s hesitation. What’s on the menu today?  Onion potato gratin, quiche, crepes, or chocolate soufflé? The Culinaria door collection exudes the right amount of ambiance and influence your kitchen craves for.
Bartels Doors has been a leader in the custom door industry for over 10 years, providing the architecture and design communities with quality solutions for luxury interior doors and hardware proudly manufactured in Germany.  Designer frameless glass doors, like the Culinaria collection, make a grand statement and offer the right finishing touch to any design projects.  These doors are beautifully engineered and constructed to last.  But I also love Bartels popular modern barn door hardware ensembles, contemporary library ladders, shower enclosures, fashionable handles, award winning concealed Tectus hinges and laminated door collections.  Why not celebrate your creative personality while you’re cooking and eating in the kitchen with your friends and family?  Or while planning your next perfect gourmet meal?

Bartels Doors
Design Center of the Americas
1855 Griffin Rd, Suite A366
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Santinato detail
Culinaria Clear Glass

Minimal: 21st Century Kitchens




“Clients are always enchanted by the sliding top as they step into our showrooms because they see an idea that combines beauty, comfort and creativity together with high functionality”.
 Bartolomeo Bellati
 Owner and Founder
 MINIMAL USA

They’re sleek, functional, and a visual feast.  Their “sliding top” silently slides ahead through a gently push to reveal both a singular induction stainless steel cook top and a retractable faucet.  Open, the top serves as a sophisticated linear table that can be a bar, a serving or a dining space, while closed the kitchen forms a unique block.  It is this captivating versatility that gives the kitchen a deeper meaning, turning it into a living space where a real spirit of conviviality arouses as a secret that the sliding top keeps under itself.  In this way Minimal captures the mood and ambiance of a luxury gathering and multi-functional place.

To kick off the ICFF party route, Minimal will celebrate with a book launch party for ABITARE.  Cocktails and Reception and DJ on the rooftop.
Friday, May 13th from 8:00 – 11:00pm.

Minimal USA
511 West 25th Street, Suite 809
New York, New York
RSVP:  gg@minimalusa.com
www.minimalusa.com

We find that clients are thrilled to work with a company that reach the highest customization in kitchen design.  Minimal have literally turn the concept of kitchen into an absolute living experience using high-functional solutions that are able to contain all indispensable elements in order to enjoy cooking and gathering around the kitchen area.

Minimal USA