Community Forum
Learn from our editors, subscribers and local design experts about building, decorating, renovating and landscaping your home.
Current Discussion
Hot on the scent. . . For the October/November issue of Design NJ magazine, I wrote about scented...
Join Discussion →
Start a New Discussion →
Article Archive
-
Upscale Downsizing
December/January 2010
A retired couple moving from a single - family home find they can have everything they want in a renovated townhomeContinue Reading
-
Past Present Future
December/January 2010
A Long Beach Island home is built for generations of memoriesContinue Reading
-
Outdoor Lighting
December/January 2010
Does the cloak of nighttime hide the architectural and landscaping attributes of your home and, worse, create a hazard for guests navigating their way to your front door? It might be time to consider landscape lighting. ...Continue Reading
-
His and Her Getaways
December/January 2010
The line between what makes a room feminine or masculine is a blurred one, with members of either sex appreciating elements of both styles. It often depends on who uses the room and how, as these examples showContinue Reading
-
American Dream House
February/March 2010
He came from Italy at the age of two. He grew up with two brothers in a small apartment in the Ironbound section of Newark. He worked in the family pizza restaurant throughout high school, college, and law school at ...Continue Reading
-
Formal Request
February/March 2010
A Bergen County family’s home was five years in the makingContinue Reading
-
Classically Modern
February/March 2010
Designer Rachel Minaya creates timeless style and comfort in her Bergen County homeContinue Reading
-
Long Live Your Landscape
February/March 2010
Smart planning and planting can keep
that overgrown look at bay for yearsContinue Reading -
How to Use Faux Florals
December/January 2009
How can I decorate my home with faux florals without overdoing it?Continue Reading
-
When to Restore an Antique Piano
December/January 2009
How do I know when I should have an antique piano restored?Continue Reading
-
Benefits of Motorized Window Shades and Treatments
December/January 2009
What are the benefits of motorized window shades or treatments?Continue Reading
-
Eco-Friendly Water-Saving Fixtures and Faucets
December/January 2009
I am in the market to replace my fixtures and faucets and want them to be eco-friendly and have water-saving features. Also I am interested in the new higher toilets. What can you recommend?Continue Reading
-
In the Treetops
December/January 2009
An addition connects a Stockton home to a garage — and its surroundings.Continue Reading
-
Laundry - Ecologically Speaking
December/January 2009
Washing and drying clothes can be a big drain on water and power usage, but technology is lessening the impactContinue Reading
-
Architects' Favorite Architectural Elements
December/January 2009
What is your favorite architectural feature in a residence and why?Continue Reading
-
Warm Up Your Rooms After the Holidays
December/January 2009
Once the holidays are over and the decorations are stored for another year, how can a homeowner visually warm up a room for the remainder of winter?Continue Reading
-
Greener Grass
December/January 2009
Lawn maintenance becomes safer for you and the environmentContinue Reading
-
Step On It: Flooring Options
December/January 2009
Flooring companies develop eco-friendly linesContinue Reading
-
Wall Statements
December/January 2009
You don’t have to sacrifice style when choosing wallpaperContinue Reading
-
Design Magic
October/November 2009
A penthouse gets a glamorous renovation in keeping with its Atlantic City locationContinue Reading
-
Stately Homes By-the-Sea Show House
October/November 2009
Designers transform a 1915 home known as Sheep’s Run for the 2009 Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey fund-raiser
At the Stately Homes By-the-Sea Show House in May, visitors got a taste of elegant country ...Continue Reading -
Opening Statements
October/November 2009
Hints on choosing a proper front door for your homeContinue Reading
-
Gather Together
October/November 2009
These spaces — living room, family room, great room, or library — provide a cozy yet compelling backdrop for the havens we craveContinue Reading
-
Beacon of Light
August/September 2009
A lighthouse theme guides the remodeling of a bayfront colonialContinue Reading
-
Ups & Downs
August/September 2009
Basements and attics can be so much more than bland storage areas. We show how four designers created functional, attractive living spacesContinue Reading
-
Solid Style
August/September 2009
How to incorporate metalwork into your home designContinue Reading
-
Living Inside the Great Outdoors
June/July 2009
What appears as a cozy contemporary Princeton ranch opens to a stunning backyard view of nature thanks to walls of glass and a prow-like balcony rimmed in steel. This design of a modern multilevel in Princeton lets inContinue Reading
-
Choosing Stone & Tile Flooring
June/July 2009
You’ve never had more choices for stone and tile flooring. This guide discusses advantages and disadvantages of some leading options.Continue Reading
-
Put on a Greener Face
June/July 2009
High-performance and low-maintenance are on everyone’s wish list for roofing, siding, and trim. We add “green” to the list of desirable traits of exterior building materials.Continue Reading
-
Paint Colors for Neutral Rooms
June/July 2009
Many homeowners want to lift their mood without breaking the bank these days by freshening a room with new paint. In a room with mostly neutral colors, what would you suggest for the walls, ceiling and trim?Continue Reading
-
Save at Home
June/July 2009
Unlocking New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program™. In her regularly featured column, Lisa Rackley outlines New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program and what it means to you as a homeowner.Continue Reading
-
Guard Against Furniture Tipping
June 2009
-
Great Expectations
April/May 2009
The transition from urban to suburban, from couple to family, inspires the design of a new home in Morris CountyContinue Reading
-
Rightsizing
April/May 2009
During these economic times, the word downsizing seems to be a pejorative term. No one wants to admit they are really cutting back, but whether they are driven by immediate needs or future ones, this may be the time to ...Continue Reading
-
A Stage For Style
April/May 2009
The Stately Homes By-the-Sea Designer Show House will transform a Rumson homeContinue Reading
-
In the Closet
April/May 2009
This is a good season to clear the cobwebs, bring warmer weather clothing to the front, and put your bedroom closet in tip-top shapeContinue Reading
-
Cool Summer Savings
April/May 2009
Make your pool more energy efficientContinue Reading
-
Greenwashing 101
February/March 2009
Do the "eco-friendly" products you purchase live up to their claims?Continue Reading
-
Green Watch
February 2009
Organizations and companies monitor environmental responsibilityContinue Reading
-
Balancing Act
February/March 2009
Designer Tracey Butler mixes high- and low-end in her stylish Essex Fells homeContinue Reading
-
Twin Maples Show House
February/March 2009
The Union County town of Summit was a center of design in October as designers worked their magic on Twin Maples, a century-old neoclassic home that houses The Fortnightly Club and the Summit Junior Fortnightly Club. The ...Continue Reading
-
Start Planning a Sunroom
February/March 2009
Is it too soon to start planning a sunroom in the winter?Continue Reading
-
Home Staging Strategies
February/March 2009
Home “staging” — the art of marketing one’s home for a quick, profitable sale — promises a competitive edge in a slow marketContinue Reading
-
How Design Works For You
February/March 2009
20 Questions to Ask Your ArchitectContinue Reading
-
You and Your Architect
January 2009
A Guide for a Successful PartnershipContinue Reading
-
Personality Plus
October/November 2008
The custom-designed midcentury ranch had a lot going for it: good bones and a beautiful location in Smoke Rise, one of the oldest gated communities in the United States. Yet it was lacking personality — any sense of theContinue Reading
-
Eco-friendly Mattresses
October/November 2008
If you suffer from severe allergies or asthma, your bed may be causing agony. To help you find a healthier option, here are some useful tips.Continue Reading
-
Favorite Kitchen Appliances
August/September 2008
As a credentialed kitchen designer, what is your favorite kitchen appliance?Continue Reading
-
Best Colors For Staging Your Home
August/September 2008
What are the Best Colors When Staging Your Home?Continue Reading
-
Eco-Friendly Carpet
August/September 2008
Choosing eco-friendly carpeting can be daunting. Here are some hints to make the process easier.Continue Reading
-
Low-Maintenance Options for Koi Ponds
August/September 2008
What is a low-maintenance option when it comes to Koi ponds? — Phil B. in EwingContinue Reading
-
Designers Favorite Outdoor Furniture & Fabrics
June/July 2008
What outdoor furniture & fabrics do you personally like for summer 2008 and why?Continue Reading
-
When To Hire a LEED Professional
June/July 2008
Barbara Savini, allied ASID Member and Certified Sustainable Building Adviser shares her thoughts.Continue Reading
-
Fresh Heirloom
June/July 2008
Though recently rebuilt, this Morris County home looks like it’s been around for years.Continue Reading
-
How to Choose Accent Chairs
April/May 2008
“If you were to choose an accent chair for your own living room, what factors would you consider?”Continue Reading
-
Eco-Tile Style
April/May 2008
Recycled glass is a colorful, environmentally friendly option.Continue Reading
-
Designers' Favorite Color Combinations
February/March 2008
“When designing a room, what is your favorite color combination right now?”Continue Reading
-
How to Plan Your Outdoor Area
February/March 2008
I’m finally ready to start making a plan for my outdoor area. Where do I start? — Josh T. in ManahawkinContinue Reading
-
What is a Floor Cloth and Where Can One be Used?
October/November 2007
What is a floor cloth and where can one be used? — Kelly Z. in EatontownContinue Reading
-
How to Dress a Palladian Window
June/July 2007
How would you dress a Palladian window?Continue Reading
-
Furnishing a Foyer
April/May 2007
What furnishings do you like to include in a foyer and why?Continue Reading
-
Landscaping Considerations When Buying a Home
April/May 2007
What kinds of potential landscaping problems should I beware of when buying a new home?Continue Reading
-
Color With a Conscience
April/May 2007
New paint formulas are more friendly to the environment
Just the right shade of paint can transform a room, but it also can negatively effect the air we breathe. As the Green Movement has drawn attention to the ...Continue Reading -
Designers' Favorite Dining Room Wall Treatments
February/March 2007
What paint color and/or wallpaper would you choose for your own dining room and why?Continue Reading
-
Stainless Steel: An Old Metal for a New Century
February/March 2007
Friendly and functional, an old metal for a new centuryContinue Reading
