This guest bedroom in a new Lake George home typifies the builders’ peerless construction quality. One of my goals was to emphasize the superior materials and craftsmanship. The stepped back beaded board ceiling is a specialty of the builders, and the intricacy and visual elegance was enhanced by the mahogany trim. The bed is finished in bronze and the Nobilis fabric on the windows is cream linen with a reddish branch and acorn pattern. The bedding features yellow coverlet and shams, with the acorn and leaf pattern on the skirt and pillows as highlight. The same pillows can be seen on the rustic Adirondack chair. All these choices, plus the pale color on the walls, allow the rich woodwork to shine.

This recently finished home theater has the warm, inviting feel of a golden age movie palace. The look was achieved through the use of extensive detail molding, upholstered walls within the upper framing (for better sound absorption), subdued theater lighting, and three paint colors—two browns and a cream for the highlights. The resulting textured ambience is key to the vintage feel.  The leather seating for nine–both single chairs and sofas–recline for cozier viewing. The table in the picture is burl wood and the carpet is patterned wool. The projector system produces the clearest image I’ve seen in a screen of this size (130 inches.) If this were my home theatre I’d be extremely popular with my friends.

I’m proposing this scheme for a poolside cabana that captures the flavor of a Caribbean retreat. The ceramic tile flooring looks like weathered driftwood yet is as sturdy and waterproof as you’d expect from ceramics. The wall color is Coral Spice, with a pale grey/green ceiling. Doors are painted in a dark bronze, with a creamy trim around the windows, doors and baseboard. Woven chairs provide comfortable seating and the intimate kitchen area features white painted cabinets. You may be sipping your margarita about 25 miles from Manhattan, but the décor will take you right to Montego Bay.

This recently finished renovation of a Short Hills kitchen took advantage of the existing strengths—a good basic floor plan and quality cabinets—to create a more open, elegant and practical space. The cabinets were painted, a rail molding was added to the bottom of the doors, the crown molding and baseboard were changed, and I designed a custom cabinet facing the breakfast area. The electric was redone to include halogen under counter lights, the backsplash and all tiling were redone, and fabulous dark granite was used for the countertops. What had been a kind of tunnel effect was alleviated by designing the custom cabinet in the breakfast area to rise higher than the ceiling break, and to paint the slant ceiling a lighter color. The previous kitchen, with its pickled oak cabinets, light floors and Corian counters placed the space resolutely in the 1980s. This renovation gives it a understated, classic look and feel. For much less than less than the cost of a new kitchen.