Freelance Writer

5 Common Skincare Mistakes You're Making

We all want that radiant glow of healthy, picture-perfect skin. And this means lots of time, effort and money put into skin care routines, treatments, and a plethora of skin care products as you try to find that magic bullet. Unfortunately, there is such a thing as trying too hard; sometimes, misconceptions or lack of info about skin issues means that certain treatments can do more harm than good. If your ongoing skin concerns are not improving or even getting worse in spite of your best efforts

5 Self-Care Rituals To Bound You Recharge

Most of us spend our days in a whirl of responsibilities, giving to others and taking care of everyone around us: kids, parents, friends, loved ones. But as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup; and once in a while, it’s time to show some love to that most important person in your life – yourself. There’s no time like a lazy Sunday to focus on taking care of you: dedicate a day entirely to self-care with these six rituals bound to relieve daily stresses, induce a sense of well-being

Down to Earth: Montana Ranch

This makes it all the less expected to come upon this striking property that stretches along the valley’s weathered earth. Strikingly modern on one hand, the home nevertheless melds harmoniously into the surroundings, tempering its glass and sharp angles with an understated profile and earthy palette. “It’s definitely not your typical Montana ranch house,” says Seattle-based interior designer Christian Grevstad, who worked on the residence, a family’s home-away-from-home, in collaboration with

Casa Bahia with Architect Alejandro Landes

When a filmmaker with no formal architecture training builds his first home, something unexpected happens. “I made the house like I would make a movie,” says the filmmaker-turned architect Alejandro Landes, who turns his lens on a buoyant brick-and-mortar premiere. “It’s designed like a sequence of shots: framing scenes of nature and shadow and light.” The two art forms, seemingly distant, yet quite similar in their pursuit of the nove

Runways & Places

Centuries of scorching sun and lashing winds turn the stone of Europe’s bygone-era facades a whitewashed shade of nude, the sun-bleached brick taking on the faintest rose tint. The faded hue is a natural choice for summer’s delicate pieces, showing up in barely-there-pinks and tawny peaches, on everything from romantic frocks to palazzo pants. Accessories come in as soft taupe leathers and rose golds. In a particularly remarkable inspiration, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan shows dust

Modern Nomad: Interior Designer Marcela Butler

Interior designers’ work on their own property is inevitably wrought with expectations and curiosity, much like the personal wardrobes of couturiers. However, designer Marcela Butler’s East Hamptons vacation home is anything but a staged design showcase. While certainly a testament to the designer’s professional aptitude, the beach house’s first impression is simply that of a home: bright with personality and emanating the effortless warmth that comes only from the soul and stories one brings to

Orbital Axis

When it comes to interiors, artwork is all too often relegated to an accent, an element of decor used to merely highlight or enhance an existing space. However, for art-savvy power couple Michael Berkeley and Karine Haimo, a dynamic trove of painting, sculpture and photography sought the right environment no less than they did – one they found in an airy loft in a landmarked Bond Street building and converted into an understated showcase that still feels like home. “We needed a space large eno

5 Unique Shops to Check Out This Holiday Season

Even for someone who loves shopping as much as I do, the thought of facing holiday malls and crowds in a frustrating search for the ideal gift is less than exciting. Buying local, upcycling, and eco-conscious is trendy talk these days, and yet by the time Black Friday rolls around, most of us still head to the big-box giants, sifting through the same uninspired offerings year after year. But as I discovered, other options are out there if you’re willing to venture outside the department store. I