At Christmas time as a teenager, I worked at our local florist carefully wrapping poinsettia flowers against the cold. The shop and attached greenhouse were a warm, tropical retreat from snowbanks and frigid temperatures in upstate New York. Those holiday memories led me to interview Terence S. Miller, the owner of Roaring Oaks Florist, for our December issue. Florists have always been a personal business […]

“A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.”

No wonder that it was a Frenchman who is credited with declaring this obvious truth. One could argue that the Italians are equally obsessed with wine and food, and that, yes, it’s a universal thing (it is!). But I’m partial to the French, so Brillat-Savarin’s quote not only rings true for me, but its “Frenchness” feels […]

How would you describe your personal style?

After doing interior design for twenty years that’s still the hardest question to answer. I’ve discovered that the words I would use to describe my style are not necessarily what others understand. I’m more a traditionalist than a modernist. I like rooms that are textured, warm, patterned, complex and layered and, at the same time, comfortable and easy to live […]

For October’s history issue we researched the long history of October 31 celebrations and the increasing commercial importance of this holiday. Halloween is not only a night of fantasy – you can dress up as anyone or anything regardless of age, nationality, politics, or gender – it is a growing business opportunity. Internationally, Halloween is seen in some countries as American cultural imperialism with Disney […]