An American adaptation.
RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY KRISTEL MATOUSEK
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a superior autumn adventure
Located in Northern Wisconsin on Lake Superior is the quaint, coastal town of Bayfield. Although its population is slightly under six hundred residents, its list of attractions and accolades is robust: proudly the berry capital of the Dairy State as well as the gateway to the Apostle Islands. Many say that Bayfield and its surrounding area are where land meets the sky with Lake Superior providing a beautiful and ever-changing mirror. Whether you choose to charter your own boat, paddle a kayak, or cruise with one of the many tour operators, no trip to Bayfield is complete without time on the largest of the Great Lakes. Here, we share Bayfield attractions on lake and land.
Continue reading →Austin Collective
From Blank Slate to Bespoke Dwelling
WRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY KERRI FUKUI
The best way designer Helena Morozoff could explain the home was “character-less.” Her longtime clients had recently relocated to Austin, Texas, and with the real estate supply low in Austin’s coveted Tarrytown neighborhood, the couple knew they had to jump on what was available. “The home was about 70 to 75 percent finished,” says the homeowner. “The drywall was up but no fixtures, flooring, cabinets, or plumbing had been installed. The home felt very ordinary and uninspiring. The spaces were not well planned nor especially functional.” Morozoff agreed: “Initially this home was literally anemic, as if you dipped it into a white primer can of paint with literally no character whatsoever,” she says. “It was appalling. No architectural details on it.”
Continue reading →Holding Court
Bringing a Prewar Apartment into the Twenty-First Century
WRITTEN BY ALISSA SCHULMAN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE FRANZEN
When working in a prewar building, people tend toward extremes: either preserve everything or gut renovate. For this East Village apartment in the historic Onyx Court, GRT Architects founding partners Rustam-Marc Mehta and Tal Schori found a way to reminisce on the past without compromising their modern vision.
Continue reading →Oktoberfest (Pt. 2)
pretzels & beer cheese dip, spaetzle & mushroom gravy, and apple strudel
Continue reading →Divinely Inspired
A Family Home Emerges from a Circa-1930s Church
WRITTEN BY RONDA SWANEY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID DUNCAN LIVINGSTON
Sometime in the 1970s, a Depression-era church in Mill Valley, California was converted to this single-family home. When it came into the hands of the current homeowners, they turned to Holly Hollenbeck, principal designer and CEO of San Francisco Bay Area–based HSH Interiors, for an overdue update.
Continue reading →storied blooms
AN INTRODUCTION TO HEIRLOOM GARDENING
WRITTEN BY VICTORIA HITTNER
With the rising popularity of movements like homesteading, slow food, and farm-to-table, heirloom seeds are having a moment in the gardening world. And while they might sound fancy, you don’t have to put on any heirs to plant these classic varieties. Heirloom seeds are easier to find and grow than you might think.
“ . . . ask a family member, neighbor, or community co-op garden to save and share some seeds for the next planting season . . . ”
Continue reading →
renovation revelry
LIVING THROUGH A HOME REVAMP
WRITTEN BY KATHRYN O’SHEA-EVANS
There’s a reason home renovations top many folks’ wish lists: studies show they can result in major increased resale value on real estate—and in that way, they often pay for themselves. According to the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, refinishing hardwood flooring can see a cost recovery of 147 percent, converting a basement to a living space can see 86 percent, and closet renovation 83 percent returns. While they have their perks, home renos can also come with a few headaches—as anyone who has lived through one will attest. We turned to the pros to fill us in on what to expect (and their hard-won tips for success) before breaking ground on your own hallowed ground.
“ . . . when going through a home renovation, add a little more money to your budget because there is always a surprise or a new design idea . . . ”
Expect the Unexpected.
“When going through a home renovation, add a little more money to your budget because there is always a surprise or a new design idea,” says Michelle Murphy, founder and principal designer of the Chapel Hill, North Carolina–based interior design firm Demi Ryan. She recently revamped her family’s home in Durham, North Carolina and found it took twice as long as originally planned. Murphy’s family bought their home for its school district and neighborhood, but knew from the get-go it needed tweaking. Their original three-month remodel plan ended up taking twice as long—mostly because they eventually opted to gut renovate their entire house.
Another tip from Murphy is to get multiple bids from contractors before signing anything. “You do not have to choose the first person you meet with because your friend loved working with them. You need to gel and love working with them because they will become your bestie for the next year.” (Or even longer.)
Seal for Your Safety.
Renovations can stir up all manner of dust and debris that you may not want in your hair—literally. “My first piece of advice for living through a renovation is to break the project up into phases by rooms or areas,” says Nashville, Tennessee designer Elizabeth Burch. Adds Murphy: “Try to section off the area being renovated, so that your family can live comfortably in one area. As sections of the renovations are completed, you can flip to the completed side. It may take longer, but saving your sanity is well worth it!” (Consider protecting spaces with plastic walls, such as ZipWall Dust Barrier Systems, which can be set up in just minutes and are used everywhere from hospitals to schools.)
Burch also says that even if you’re not planning on fully moving out of your home, “be away during the demo phase and let the dust settle before you return. Set boundaries and working hours with the general contractor and subcontractors to maintain some sense of your normal routines.” And don’t forget to store valuable and meaningful items away from the fray, lest they get broken or lost during the shuffle.
Consider a (Temporary) Move.
You know yourself and your family best. If you think you will find a renovation to be a major headache or are concerned about potential toxins and/or noise, it may be worth moving to a long-term hotel suite with kitchen and laundry facilities or even a short-term rental like an Airbnb while your project is completed.
“Living through a renovation project adds a layer of stress,” says Murphy. “Try to plan vacations during your renovation, see if you can work from a different location, and always have a backup plan and exit strategy. It is always best to move out if possible.”
Stephen Vanze of Washington, DC architecture firm BarnesVanze Architects put it even more firmly: “Move out. You will save money, time, and aggravation. Imagine if you were a surgeon and your patient’s spouse stood with you in the operating room. It would take longer and probably not be as successful. Leave and let the pros do what they do.” Bonus: If you make yourself scarce, you’ll get to have an Oprah-worthy reveal when it’s finished and ready for you to see (cue happy tears).
sauerkraut & mustard
sauerkraut
Yields 2 quart jars
- 4 pounds cabbage, shredded
- 1 pound sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons caraway seeds
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon plus 3 teaspoons salt