This week, San Francisco architect Mark Reilly takes us on a tour of a historical house he renovated in Palo Alto, California. He is available for the next 48 hours to answer and any and all questions. Ask away!

Reilly’s client (only the third owner) of this 1927 Colonial Revival house and guest cottage was seeking to upgrade her beloved home and guest cottage. The project was all about capitalizing on the strong bones of the two structures (designed by noteworthy Bay Area architect Charles Kaiser Sumner, who having worked for the legendary New York firm McKim, Mead and White). A member of the Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory and the founding partner of Mark Reilly Architecture, Reilly's respectful design approach brings in an abundance of natural light while capitalizing on the two buildings’ relationship to the outdoors. Mixing vintage and modern materials; upgrading fixtures and surfaces; and improving building systems and building efficiency; Reilly’s considered renovation builds a solid bridge from the past to the future.

Unless otherwise noted, photography by Peter Medilek.

Above: The existing cooking niche in the kitchen is a good summary of Reilly's approach to the renovation. "The vintage Wedgewood stove and base cabinets within the niche were kept to maintain the existing style of the house but were refurbished to give them a crisp, new look," Reilly says. "The stove's porcelain and chrome were restored, and bright white paint and chrome pulls were added to the cabinets."

Above: Reilly added zinc counter tops with thick square fronts to create a classic, but modern heat resistant surface on each side of the range.

Above: The running bond tile pattern of the 3x6 subway tiles has been set off with gray grout. The architect tweaked the detailing of the tiles to give the classic tiles a modern twist. "Traditionally, the ends of subway tile are finished with quarter round or bull nose tile," says Reilly. "For this project, I had the outside ends of the tile die into "L" shaped metal strips that hide the edge of the tile to give it a clean more modern aesthetic."

Above: A series of small design moves update the kitchen for modern use. The base cabinets were repurposed with white paint and new chrome pulls. Complementary new glass-faced upper cabinets were designed in keeping with the base cabinets and aligned with the adjacent windows, creating reflected light and unifying the visual appearance of the kitchen. The existing linoleum floors were replaced with new oak floors to relate to the rest of the house improving visual flow.

Above: "For the counter top which was originally formica, the client wanted a material that didn't 'clink' when glass or serving ware was placed on it," Reilly says. "After exploring several options, we decided on end grain butcher block because of its warmth, soft feel and vintage-inspired look." Photograph by Mark Reilly.

Above: In the living room, the architect added new windows to improve the connection with the garden outside and to bring in more natural light. The fireplace mantel was restored and painted white like the walls.

Above: "The entry stair was preserved out of respect for the existing home," Reilly says. "To brighten this formerly dark space, curtains were removed from the south facing stair window, and recessed can lights were added; crisp white paint further brightens the space and connects it to the rest of the house."

Above: The tiles in the bathrooms of both the main house and the cottage is a play of the classic combination of subway tile and hexagonal floor tile, a popular tile combination in buildings of the late 20's. Reilly updates the look with beveled subway tiles and a a subtle neutral palette in the Dwell Half Hex Tiles from Heath Ceramics.

Above: The cottage bathroom is comprised of a mixture of old and new elements. The considered placement of the medicine cabinet (centered on the existing window behind), which was designed to match an existing one in the main house, means a view of the garden and more natural light is made available to the bathroom.  The wall mounted sink with exposed drainpipe was inspired by a sink in the Berkeley City Club designed by Julia Morgan while the light fixtures On the Rocks by Flos above the sink and Recessed Luminaire by Bega on the bathtub wall are modern in feeling.

Above: In the small footprint of the cottage bathroom, Reilly introduces copious amounts of natural light through a custom wall-to-wall skylight over the entire shower and tub area, making it feel bigger and brighter. "The skylight was sized so the wall tile could run up to the glass and hide the skylight frame," Reilly says.

Above: In the living room and bedroom of the guest cottage, Reilly raised the ceiling to the roof framing and added the bay window to make the space seem more spacious within the same footprint. "When you are sitting (or napping) in the new window seat, you feel like you are part of the garden," Reilly says. Photograph by Mark Reilly.

Above: "We clad the cottage walls and ceiling in V-groove painted boards to add texture and reference the outbuildings from this era," Reilly says. Photograph by Mark Reilly.

Above: A view of the rear of the house with its garden shows the new standing seam metal "cool" roof which is energy efficient and long lasting while providing a good base for the new solar hot water panels which would have been difficult to install within the existing uninsulated shaker roof. The new bay window and window seat which were added to the guest cottage can be seen in the far right of the photos. Photograph by Mark Reilly.

Our Remodelista Architecture and Designer Directory members abound in design expertise and knowledge. See 28 back posts of The Architect or Designer is In to access all that they have to offer.

The Great Gatsby has us going glam next week—well, our version of the genre. In the meantime we're thinking of Mother's Day gifts and what to wear now that the weather is finally warmer. Here's what's piquing our interest of late:

• We've got our eye on this Ever Candle from Kelly Lamb (use as a vase once done). Kelly will be selling these in LA this weekend at the Echo Park Craft Fair that will be featuring some of our favorite designers. 
• Gardenista's Michelle shows us how to make a Tiny Tabletop Garden and Sarah videos a DIY renegade Mother's Day Bouquet.

• We like this take on glam by Haynes Roberts.
• Check out this lovely interview Deborah Osburn from Cle Tile did with Christine.
• A Jackson Pollack-inspired cake, anyone?
• Just spotted this collaboration between two of our favorites (Poketo and Lisa Congdon).
• In response to Michelle's closet cleanout, one reader asked for a few workday wear tips. Here's a good start (Liz):

• Above: Spring is arriving in Paris; follow Alexa at Remodelista on Instagram to see what houses, shops, and restaurants she's sleuthing.
• Admiring Marie Christophe's wire work chandeliers via Lisa Fontanarosa.

• Francesca is checking out Bklyn Designs this weekend (one of our favorite ceramicists, Paula Grief, will be there).
• More West Coast happenings from Heath Ceramics. It's their popular Open Studio this weekend in SF and LA (15 percent off all in-store purchases).
• A reminder that our $1,000 sweepstakes with Chairish ends tomorrow. Enter here.

Half light is your best friend. This is an epiphany I had about candlelight years ago, when we started to light up for special events—dinner parties, birthdays, holiday meals. As soon as the electricity went off, everyone at the dinner table (notably, me) looked magically younger. Eyes twinkled, hair took on a luster, faces smoothed. It is no wonder that over time, every meal at my house has become a special event.

But not every member of my family is as enamored of forced twilight at the dinner table as I am.

"#$#%@!" my husband observed purply the other night. He leapt from the table, dashed across the kitchen, and threw the light switch to high.

"Stop, I'm melting," I shrieked, clawing at my cheeks.

"I just want to see how bad the damage is," he said.

"Oh my God, is something wrong with my face?" I asked, frantically patting my hairline.

"No, with me," he said. "It's so dark in here that I cut into my finger instead of my meat." 

Oh please, it was barely a paper cut. As I taped him up, I realized, however, that perhaps I'd gone too far with the candlelight. I don't want to have to add the clutter of a Band-Aid box (highly flammable) to my tabletop votive display. So I phoned candlelight expert and event planner David Stark, author of the new book The Art of the Party. Here are some of his top tips (see the complete story at Gardenista):

Above: A candlelit room at dusk; photograph by Amy Neunsinger.

"I'm not ready to admit that Thomas Edison was onto something with electricity," I told Mr. Stark. "But some members of my family accuse me of going too far with the candlelight."

Mr. Stark has seen this problem before.

"You don't want to get to the point where you're in a space and the candles are generating so much heat that it's uncomfortable," he said. "A good idea is to think about what other decorations are on the table and then decide on the candles."

Tip No. 1: If you're serving food family style at the dinner table, he said, keep candle height low.  "You don't want somebody who is reaching over to grab a platter or a serving spoon to have a sleeve catch on fire," Mr. Stark pointed out.

Tip No. 2: If you want taller candles at the table, encase lantern or pillar candles in glass. "This is an especially good idea if you have a lot of paper on the table, like paper flower decorations. They're quite flammable," he said.

Tip No. 3: Avoid the seance look, especially if you're in an indoor location in the summer. "If the air conditioning doesn't work well and you have too many candles, you can all of a sudden generate the heat of a fire," Mr. Stark said. Not a good idea.

Above: Photograph via Ellinor's Hus. "If you do it right, candles create instant ambience," said Mr. Stark. "When you think about decor, the best investments you can make are in candles."

Tip No. 4: You don't need to spend a zillion dollars on votive candle holders. Mr. Stark keeps a supply of clear glass votives and tealight holders—"giant packs from Ikea"—on hand for parties.

"This reminds me of another problem I have—that smudgy wax that gets hard and stuck at the bottom of the votive holder after the candle burns out," I said. "How do you get that out?"

"Well, that's another reason to get them from Ikea—what are they, like 99 cents? I think they are intended to be disposable," said Mr. Stark. "I don't think they were ever intended to have more than their brief, shining moment."

Above: Actually, a four-pack of Galej Tealight Holders is $1.99 from Ikea. 

Tip No. 5: To re-use glass votive candle holders, run hot water over them to loosen the smudgy leftover wax. If necessary, run the edge of a butter knife around the softened wax and pop it out gently.

 Another benefit of clear glass candle holder with a white votive is that after the flame is lit, everything else disappears—and it's all about the warm glow from the fire.

See the rest of this story at Gardenista for 7 more Tips for Glamorous Candlelight.

Want to read more Domestic Dispatches from Michelle? See The Truth About Indoor Citrus Trees (Hint: They're Rather Be Outdoors) and 10 Mistakes to Avoid When You Remodel.

Let's take a minute to envision your fantasy flower garden. Tall, breeze-blown blossoms sway like synchronized swimmers. The clouds of color remind you (again) that you've always wanted to visit Monet's garden at Giverny. In the distance, a phone rings, but you don't hear it; the garden has enveloped you in the moment and it's a good moment.

Now let's make the fantasy come true. How do you create a lush flower garden? Good dirt, lots of digging, lots of water, and ample nutrition to ensure the plants will flourish. Here is a roundup of flower gardens for inspiration:

Above: Fresh-from-the-garden arrangements in the San Francisco shop of Louesa Roebuck (see A Fearless Forager Opens a Flower Shop). Photography by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.

About 500 different clumps of dahlias recklessly bloom their heads off in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The dahlias are planted in a modest plot next to the Conservatory of Flowers. There are four distinctive shapes of dahlias. The "Decorative" varieties, according to the sign at the Dahlia Dell, are double flowers that "have broad, flat petals that incurve slightly at their margin and usually reflex to the stem." For more, see Dahlia Fever in San Francisco.

Photograph by Marla Aufmuth.

An old boathouse in a sheltered cove in Tiburon, California, survived a landslide in 1982. Rebuilt now, bougainvillea climbs the south wall. The boathouse has six capstans and views of Angel Island. Beginning in 1997, Sausalito-based garden designer Paul Leffingwell began creating a new design for the property. For more, see A Survivor: A Grand Seaside Garden in Tiburon.

Photograph by Jeanne Rostaing.

It is wise to consult a local expert before planting your flowers to make sure they will thrive in your growing zone (as are these Northeast roses). According to Sarah Owens of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, home gardeners often make the mistake of choosing the wrong plants.

To grow a lush garden of your own, supply your flowers with adequate nutrients.The Pennington Smart Feed Sprayer System makes it easy to evenly distribute vital water soluble nutrients at the same time. The premium fertilizer tablets created for Flowers & Blooms come pre-measured and are ready to use. And the four-way, adjustable sprayer ensures a faster and more uniform delivery of nutrients, while using less water.

Above: Photograph by Kendra Wilson.

The Cottage Garden at Sissinghurst contains no white. It faces west and is full of opulent color and rich scent: a place to sit at the end of the day, while watching the sun go down. For more, see Vita's Sunset Garden and for more information on using the Pennington Smart Feed for your next Garden DIY, please visit the company's site.

Here at Remodelista, we swoon over a bit of rough; especially when it's paired with a hint of contrasting glamor.

Designed and manufactured by Sawkille Co., the Springsteen Trestle Table embodies the collaborative spirit of founders Jonah Meyer and Tara De Lisio, incorporating distinctive brass metal patches produced by brothers Matthew and Stewart Verrilli of Prandoni Fabrication & Design. A farmhouse table adorned with the subtle glow and warmth of brass; just the way we like it.

Above: The Springsteen Trestle Table with the Tremper Rabbit Bench on the left and the Sawkille Bench on the right.

Above: Inlaid brass metal patches are decorative as well as functional, providing stability in rough cuts of wood.

Above: A mortise and tenon joint displays the handiwork of the artisans.

Above: The concept of a patchwork quilt; reworked.

In the same vein, have you seen Architectural Detail: Metal Patches on Old Wood Floors? Casting director Mindy Marin uses zinc patches to cover the holes of her wood floors. Still swooning.

On our radar of late: Bottega Louie, an unlikely restaurant, market, and bar that brings turn-of-the-century Viennese Kaffeehaus grandeur to downtown Los Angeles.

The palatial 10,000-square-foot restaurant is on the ground floor of the Brockman Building, a 1912 Classical Romanesque Revival structure that sits on the corner of Seventh and Grand. Keat Bollenbach (a young entrepreneur and co-owner with Daniel Flores), was instrumental in the design process, according to Michael Rominske of View Design Studio. The aim was "to create an old style European experience," says Rominske, who adds that "finding the building really helped create the experience from the outside in."

The interior was a raw concrete space that Rominske transformed by whitewashing the walls, ceilings, and columns and by laying carrara marble on the floor. To counterbalance the white, he brought in warm wood and bronze detailing. Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows allow light to flood into the white interior, putting the packed urban crowd on full display to passersby at night. For more information visit Bottega Louie.

Above: Brass-detailed wood panels were added to the base of the concrete columns. The hostess table was custom made locally, inspired by furniture pieces Bollenback admired. The rear wall, covered in subway tile, is in the kitchen area that houses the pizza oven.

Above: Marble-clad bistro tables in the bar area for more casual dining.

Above: Brass is used throughout the restaurant, from the railing above the black banquette to the brass-trimmed windows at street level.

Above: The kitchens are on full view. The millwork on the wood counter (and throughout the space) was inspired by an antique piece of furniture that Bollenbach owned and subsequently took apart to create molds for this project.

Above: Bottega Louie is an emporium of sorts, with a market for takeout food as well as a full patisserie. Goods are on display on the wall of brass shelving.

Above: Towers of colorful macaroons on display.

Above: Vibrantly hued macaroons (L) and boxed chocolate (R).

Above: The bar area with breakfast diners.

Above: The bathrooms echo the recurring elements of brass and marble used in the restaurant. A contrasting marble is used for the sinks.

Above: The historical Brockman Building lit up at night.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on September 12, 2012.

A while back, we featured New York's Nomad Hotel, designed by Jacques Garcia, who drew from his memories of the Parisian flat of his youth in designing the lavish interiors. We especially like the bedrooms, which feature an understated Old World glamor.

Recreate the Beaux Arts ambience of the 340-squarefoot Classic Room using the following elements, and see more of the hotel (including the library's impressive mahogany spiral staircase imported from the south of France) at A Glamorous Retreat for Modern Mad Men.

Above: A king-sized bed is surrounded with an eclectic selection of artwork.

Above: A headboard in tanned etched leather.

Above: A screen upholstered in ochre damask fabric.

Above: A half-painted wall in the bath.

Above: A freestanding clawfoot bath tub sits just beneath the window.

Above: Designed by UK-based Christopher Howe, a 19th Century Swedish Stool with pine leg construction is reupholstered in a mustard damask print. Contact Christopher Howe for pricing and availability.

Above: Room & Board's Profile Frames are available in solid wood (walnut, black lacquer, white lacquer) or aluminum (with a silver or gunmetal finish). Available in five sizes, including the 8-by-10-inch Black Profile Frame for $69 (shown above). Prices range from $49 to $99, depending on size and finish. For more framing ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Gallery-Style Picture Frames.

Above: Restoration Hardware's Lorraine Caned Framed Bed is made from ebony-stained solid oak; $1,355 for the queen size (you can also source leather headboards from Restoration Hardware's Leather Beds Collection).

Above: For wall lamps with a Nomadish sensibility, The English House's Rodmarton Single Arm Wall Light, designed by architect Charles Morris, is made from patinated steel; £144.

Above: Coyuchi's organic percale 100 percent cotton sheets are available in white or ivory. The 300 Percale Sheets run from $86 to $140, depending on size. For more options, see 10 Easy Pieces: Simple White Sheets.

Above: Another Christopher Howe piece: a French 1950s Velvet Pouffee features original button velvet upholstery in its original condition for £850. For more from the designer, see Manor-Worthy Furniture from Christopher Howe.

Above: Pottery Barn's Cameron Cotton Drape is woven from 100 percent cotton and available in five different lengths, starting with the 50- by 63-inch panel for $25 each.

Above: Waterworks' brass Roadster Wall Mounted Tub Filler is available in a chrome or nickel finish; $1,391.

Above: Victoria and Albert's Cheshire Bath has white feet and a chrome drain for $1,785 at Home and Stone. For more ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Freestanding Bathtubs.

Above: A luxurious addition to the freestanding bath is the Crystal Tub Rack Caddy made from brass with a chrome finish and anti-slip rubber in white for $461 from Waterworks.

Above: The Classic Room's bathroom is color blocked in a greenish-black paint color; we like Farrow & Ball's Studio Green with its dark undertones; $105 for a gallon of the Estate Eggshell finish.

Looking for more luxurious hotels in New York? Sift through our top 10 in our New York City Travel Guide.

In honor of this week's glamor issue, inspired by "The Great Gatsby," we're thinking about 1920s-style opulence and having fantasies of the ultimate dressing table accessories. For most of us, "the dressing table" really means the bathroom counter, or if you're a city dweller, even the hallway mirror in your flat. Here are the top five items on our dressing table wish list:

Above: We like this Early 20th Century Shield Mirror with a Gothic note, formerly of the collection of John Hobbs Esq. and available through Christopher Howe in London.

Above: We'd be content to store a bit of eau de parfum in one of Lindsey Adelman's blown-glass vessels with sculptural cast-brass stoppers; the Large Vessel is $540 from Matter.

Above: Saskia Diez' Wooden Jewelry Box (the AC02 Jewel) designed for e15 is a modular four-piece jewelry case made from European walnut; €490 from Saskia Diez.

Above: Available at Mjölk in Toronto, Oji Masanori's Brass Ihada Rectangle Tray is made from solid brass with an Ihada finish (sand cast with a rough surface), which aids in keeping glassware from sliding; $440 CAD.

Above: Designed by Craster, the Swallowtail Waste Bin is made from durable aero plywood that is steam bent and fastened with copper nails; $175 from Huzza.

Want to see what else is inspiring us and earning a spot on each of our wish lists? Follow Remodelista on Pinterest and see individual editors' picks for more.

We've been fans of The Future Perfect ever since it opened in Williamsburg in 2003. Owner David Alhadeff manages to combine both glamor and charm in his collection of furnishings and goods for the home, offering a continuously fresh and creative perspective.

Needless to say, we headed right over when  Alhadeff opened a West Coast TFP outpost in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood recently. As he tells us, "I opened in San Francisco for the simple reason that it's an amazing market with a sophisticated clientele who appreciate quality, craftsmanship, and perceive beauty in the details, which is exactly what we also look for in the objects we represent.  The fact that San Francisco is one of the most beautiful places in the world doesn't hurt."  It also doesn't hurt that he moved next door to March, one of our favorite SF haunts. To learn more, visit The Future Perfect.

Above: A Goddard Sofa designed by Russell Pinch. The large white Quartz Crystals on the table are by Michele Quan.

Above: Displayed in the window are two round Milled Bowls in Scrapwood by Piet Hein Eek.

Above: A Lindsey Adelman light is suspended over a Piet Hein Eek Waste Table in Scrapwood. Nearby are a trio of metallic Log Stools by Jason Phillips.

Above: On the table is a ceramic Facet Bowl by Piet Hein Eek.

Above: On the wall, the Imo Folding Stool by Russell Pinch.

Above: Suspended over the table is a Linden Chandelier by local designer Charles de Lisle for The Future Perfect, in satin brass finish.

Above: An Oscar Sectional Sofa by Mathew Hilton with Michele Quan bells above.

See more posts on Piet Hein Eek.

Every page we tear out, every image we pin, we fantasize about the way we want to live. And if your personal fantasy is not available in print or online, then Los Angeles architect and designer Alexandra Loew can probably help you out. 

With a view that “fantasy is a critical dimension of contemporary life and culture," Loew (she's the founder of design firm From the Desk of Lola, a member of the Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory) strives in her designs to be a filter for her clients’ fantasies. And so when a collector of George Hurrell portraits (black and white glamour shots of Hollywood starlets in studio settings) requested a private backdrop for her own silver screen moment,  it was a perfect match. “The images were wonderfully instructive in that the environments are highly contrived and the lighting is carefully controlled,” Loew says.  “And because they are black and white, the images are studies in contrast rather than color—matte and gloss, sheen and texture, geometry and drape. That is to say, we used no color, other than ivory and black, and a lot of metals: gold and silver leaf and soldier's course mirror tiles, liquid mesh, three different kinds of lacquer, brass, glass, and materials like fur, silk crepe, and mohair.”

Unless otherwise noted, photography by Jessica Antola.

Above: Custom-fitted cabinets flank the dressing table and are organized with belts and lingerie in the shallow top drawers and bulky sweaters in the deep drawers at the bottom. The drawer at the table contains costume jewelry and is partitioned and flocked in black. "Secretly, I was also looking at Eileen Grey," Loew says. "She used lacquer to great effect, and because she designed furniture, each element holds its own."  Photograph by Justin Bernhaut.

Above: Shoes, boots and clothes sit in the area behind the motorized gold mesh curtains. Low voltage xenon globe lamps are mounted to a continuous beam channel at the top, creating a shimmering effect through the gold mesh curtain. Photograph by Justin Bernhaut.

Above: The illusory effect of lighting was critical in this project and Loew worked with lighting designer Dan Weinreber a friend from architecture school and a partner at the lighting design firm Kaplan Gehring McCarroll, who was coincidentally working on the refurbishment of Morris Lapidus's Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami at the same time. "I am fortunate that Dan still takes my calls," Loew says. "He gets the concept quickly and specifies the perfect lighting solutions."

Above L: Liquid Mesh, a material originally used for handbags and halter dresses, by Whiting and Davis was used for the curtains. The drapes are motorized allowing the client to peruse her wardrobe at the flick of a switch. Above R: The wall covering is a German made glitter sourced at Stark and appropriately called "Cocktail".

Above: The gold curtain provides a shimmering backdrop when seated at the mirror, which when not illuminated looks like a seamless wall. Weinreber had the silver coating at the back sandblasted away in vertical strips where linear flourescents were mounted to provide a soft, bright and dimmable glow, which magically appears from the surface of the mirror. "The combination of these side light flourescents and the adjacent incadescent scones provides excellent color rendition for skin tones," Loew says. "Everything about the room was intended to make my client look and feel glamorous, which she did - in spades!"

Above: "We sourced, edited and detailed a body of materials that would make you feel, as literally as possible, as if you were inhabiting a scene of the silver screen," Loew says. Photograph by Justin Bernhaut.

Above L: "All of the built elements in the master bedroom were designed to read like architectural fragments - like a set piece from a movie," Loew says. Above R: "The circle-in-the-square was a prevailing motif, because it added dimension to the existing shell, which was boxy with a low ceiling," Loew says. "And it gave a seventies edge to an otherwise Deco environment; these sorts of anachronisms keeps the design from veering into 'theme-room' territory."

Above: The recessed light fixture glows softly without glare.

Above: The hallway to the bedroom suite is lined with the client's collection of George Hurell prints. "We pored over her collection together," Loew says. "She sent me packing with a copy of his monograph, called me darling ('dahling') and I loved every minute of it."

Looking for ways to introduce gold into your home decor? See 176 images of Gold in our Gallery of rooms and spaces. 

There was a girl who grew up in the Phipps mansion on Long Island's Gold Coast and she was named Margaret but she went by Peggie, and she married young and divorced. Her second marriage lasted longer and after her parents died, in the 1950s, she moved with her husband—a French diplomat, of course—into a smaller house on the estate, a comparatively modest white clapboard house called Orchard Hill. Much of the rest of the grounds, including 70 acres of gardens, she decided to open to the public.

Peggie Phipps Boegner created a non-profit conservancy to oversee Old Westbury Gardens and then lived the rest of her life on the grounds, dying at home at age 99. Hers was a life F. Scott Fitzgerald would have recognized. In fact, he may have known her, as he and Zelda lived in nearby Great Neck in the 1920s when Peggie—whose grandfathers had founded, respectively, the United States Steel Corporation and Grace Shipping Line—was growing up.

But back to the gardens. I visited once, many years ago, when Peggie was living in the white clapboard house and had invited local journalists over for a tour. I remember miles and miles of roses, a vast green lawn, 18th-century antiques—and that Peggie served tea white sitting beneath an enormous portrait of her mother.

By the time filmmaker Baz Lurhmann decided to appropriate the grounds and exterior of Westbury House to inspire the exterior sets for Daisy Buchanan's house in his 3-D remake of The Great Gatsby, which opened a few days ago in theaters, Peggie Phipps Boegner had been dead a few years. But the estate's elaborate Italianate walled garden, its trees espaliered into the shapes of candelabras, and its grand allées of linden trees are beautifully preserved. Polo, anyone? Let's take a stroll around the place:

 Photographs via Old Westbury Gardens except where noted.

Photograph by Laura via Flickr.

Designed by George A. Crawley, the redbrick mansion has 23 rooms; the Phippses moved in with their children in 1906, the year Peggie was born.

Above: The West Gate and Center Fountain at Old Westbury Gardens.

Above: Photograph by Cmyk Girl via Flickr.

The Thatched Cottage at the Phipps Estate was a gift to Peggie for her sixth birthday in 1912.

Above: The exterior of the Thatched Cottage, which looks more like a place where Nick Carroway might live.

Above: Photograph by S.M. Nikfarjam via Flickr.

Foxgloves in bloom at Old Westbury Gardens.

Above: One of several statuary niches along the South Terrace of Westbury House.

Above: Weeping cherry trees at daybreak.

Above: Photograph by Cmyk Girl via Flickr.

The Temple of Love, a stone folly at the edge of a langorous pond.

Above: Photograph via Old Long Island.

Orchard Hill, the 19th-century farmhouse on the estate where Peggie Phipps Boegner lived in later years. After her death, the county purchased the house in 2007 and gave it to Old Westbury Gardens.

Above: Photograph by S.M. Nikfarjam via Flickr.

Yellow climbing roses.

Above: The view from the mansion's terrace, shrouded in mist.

For another Gatsby-esque Long Island garden, see Grandeur in the Hamptons: A Sprawling Estate in Watermill.

Growing your own vegetables and herbs is easier than you think—and the result is absolute luxury. The essentials: a simple plan,  plenty of sunlight, proper nutrition, and ample water.

Inspired? Here are a few tips we gleaned from experts to help you create a thriving edible garden. You'll be picking fresh lettuce for dinner before you know it.

Above: When California-based landscape designer Art Luna creates his edible gardens, he employs one important feature: raised garden beds. These allow you to keep the soil temperature consistent, making for happy fruits and vegetables. While the size of bed depends on the space allowed, Luna often builds his to stand 24 inches high; this is visually appealing and makes it comfortable for a gardener to sit on the edge while weeding. Seen here: an early home vegetable garden in a cedar bed; photograph by Stacey Lindsay.

Above: Adequate sunlight is essential for vegetables to thrive. On the roof of San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel, Chef J.W. Foster keeps four hives and grows citrus trees, vegetables, and classic Mediterranean herbs in dozens of raised beds. Be sure to read literature on the specific vegetables you choose to grow, as the required amount sunlight will vary (an average of at least six hours of daily is usually necessary). Photograph by Marla Aufmuth.

Above:  Galvanized metal raised vegetable beds stand in a nine-square grid in Neisha Croland's urban oasis. Whatever environment you to choose to grow edible plants, proper nutrition is necessary. The Pennington Smart Feed Sprayer System provides an easy way to feed your plants. Use with the Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer tablets to deliver vegetable-specific nutrients and for more information on using the Pennington Smart Feed Sprayer for your next Vegetable Garden DIY, please visit the company's site.  Photograph by Christine Hanway.

Above: When embarking on your first vegetable garden, it pays to have a simple plan. Ask yourself: What vegetables do I love to eat? How many mouths do I plan to feed? This will allow you to start with the basics and then build with each season. At the walled garden at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire, England, rainbow chard, a relatively easy green to cultivate, bursts from the ground.  Photograph by Kendra Wilson.

Above: Perhaps one of the most invaluable tools for any garden is a helping hand. Follow the lead of Jen Catto, who threw a brunch party in exchange for expertise from her friend who is a landscape designer (and digging help from other friends to help bring her Brooklyn outdoor space to life).  Photograph by Nicole Franzen.

What do the experts love to grow? Allan Jenkins, gardener and editor of Observer Food Monthly in the UK, tells us  his all-time favorites in the vegetable garden.

Our favorite options for keeping your Champagne cold, no matter the occasion (Above:  (N.B. For more, see our favorite champagne flutes and glasses as well).

Above: The nickel Bucky Ice Bucket from Paola C. is $275 from Huzza.

Above: Tina Frey's Resin Champagne Bucket with Leather Handles is $190 from Horne.

Above: The Maison Martin Margiela Champagne Pail adds an industrial note; $446 from A+R.

Above: Stainless Steel Shiny Champagne Bucket with double wall insulation (stays cold inside, dry outside); $39.95 at CB2.

Above: Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi, the stainless steel Champagne Bucket is $250 at Unica Home; photo via Amazon.

Above: The Vintage Hotel Silver Champagne Bucket is $116 (down from $129) at Restoration Hardware.

Above: The pewter Italian Match Champagne Bucket; $440 from the Silver Gallery.

Above: This classic stainless steel Champagne Bucket can be monogrammed for an additional $7; starts at $34 at West Elm.

Above: Stainless steel Contas Champagne Bucket, made in Germany; $116 at AllModern.

Above: Part of the silver mirrored glasses line by London-based designer Michael Anastassiades, the Silvered Mirrored Ice Bucket is available for £122.50 from his website.

Above: Vintage Midcentury Champagne Cooler from Italy; $48 from Found Here on Etsy.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on December 23, 2009.

There's never any shortage of glamor at San Francisco's annual Decorator's Showcase, but this year we were particularly taken with designer Catherine Kwong's rock-and-roll-meets-the-jet-set theme in the living room of an 1899 Pacific Height's Georgian mansion. Kwong was inspired by Mick and Bianca (Jagger, that is), specifically from their early Saint Tropez cruising days, with Bianca in a white pants suit and Mick swathed in silk scarves. For more on Catherine Kwong, see our Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory.

Photography by David Duncan Livingston except where noted.

Above: Kwong kept the original ceilings with gilded detail, a counterpoint to the white and midnight blue hand-painted floor.

Above: Installed on either side of the mantlepiece are circa 1970s Mario Yagi/Sirrah, Garbo lighting with long fringe shades. The silk taffeta drapes are custom made with unfinished edge detail and braided trim fabricated by Georgina Rice & Co. The Milo chair frames with polished brass finish are from Lawson-Fenning, reupholstered in white quilted Rubelli fabric. The two basalt stone side tables with polished tops are from Michael Taylor. Photograph by Bess Friday.

Above: The large vintage wood desk from Coup d’Etat is painted black with white pinstriping. The oak bench with brass caps is covered with Mongolian sheepskin, while the oversized barn door panels in ebonized wood finish are punctuated with bronze pyramid studs that echo the vintage brass hourglass sconces.

Above L: A drinks cart. Above A: a detail of the floor. Photograph by Bess Friday.

Above: The floor was painted in layers of midnight blue by SF-based Stancil Studios. Oversized brushes (the size of brooms) were used to create the dramatic Cy Twombly-inspired white strokes of paint across the floor.

Above: The curved-back sofa is upholstered in a silk wool fabric with a large black and white photograph by Henry Leutwyler above.

Door knockers have been around for centuries, created for the pragmatic purpose of announcing the arrival of guests and, later, to make a visual statement. Some were even designed to ward off evil spirits (unwanted guests?). We've rounded up five door knockers simple enough to adorn the 21st-century door. 

Above: Designed in high Italian Renaissance style by the architecture firm of McKim, Mead & White in the early 1900's, the Payne Whitney mansion in New York has an entrance guarded by lion head door knockers.  Image via Sketch 42.

Above: The hand-finished E3 Door Knocker from Brussels-based hardware company Vervloet is from the Contemporary line; contact E. R. Butler for pricing and ordering information.

Above: Rocky Mountain's Round Door Knockers are available in four different sizes and several different finishes; prices start at $240 for the 4-inch size.

Above: The solid brass Ring Door Knocker is available in two sizes and a choices of four finishes including pewter (as shown). Currently on sale for $32 to $42.50 (regularly $40 to $50), depending on size, at Restoration Hardware. 

Above: The Samuel Heath Ring Door Knocker measures 4.75 inches high and is available in a choice of seven finishes, including polished nickel (as shown). Prices start at $143.48 via Quality Bath.  

Above: The Baldwin Ring Style Solid Brass Door Knocker is available in several finishes; prices range from $71.40 to $84 at Handle Sets.

For indoors, consider an Elegant Black Doorknob. 

It's a miracle that my husband and I ever got together. When we met at architecture school, our approaches to designing were worlds apart. These days, due to his travel schedule, we find we're still often worlds apart; but closer as well, thanks to Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium subscription.

The process of becoming an architect can be grueling at best; surviving the program requires minimal sleep, nerves of steel, and excessive amounts of adrenaline or caffeine, especially in the days leading up to a project deadline. My husband, who subscribes to the old British 6 P’s military adage, “proper planning prevents poor performance,” thrived on that kind of stress, while I was always on the verge of capitulation.

Above: Our approaches to getting dressed are worlds apart as well. I dress for the specific occasion while Bill is always ready to brave the rain, tube, or plane. Photography by Kristin Perers.

In the eleventh hour on the eve of any deadline, he could be found air-brushing the finishing touches of his presentation (we were the pre-Photoshop generation) while dancing at the same time (Tom Tom Club if you must know), and I would be slumped over my desk in bleary-eyed supplication to the Architecture Gods above, praying that the critics would have mercy on me.

As he sailed through the three and a half years, I limped along in fits and starts. In time, we learned to appreciate each other’s differences; he continued to believe in the power of the plan (his never went wrong) and I had resolute faith in my communication skills as I continued in desperation to summon the powers of any higher authority when I either lacked a plan or realized that the one I had was heading south fast.

Above: Take a tour with me of our construction site (aka home) in London.

We laid the foundations of our relationship in our first apartment, when we set up two drafting tables side by side and communicated our ideas through drawing and talking (for the most part, he drew while I talked).

Above: In a pre-digital age, we communicated and collaborated over our drafting tables. Image via Modern50.

Throughout the years, we have become quite well practiced at communication, despite the trials that come with moving across the ocean, raising two children, work stresses, and way too much traveling on his part. Modern technology has helped enormously as we shuffle among email, texts, Pinterest, and phone calls, depending on our needs. Not an ideal situation as we geared up for a house renovation, but we were making do just fine—until he dropped the bomb.

“How would you feel if I told you my job requires me to be in New York?” he said one evening.

“What do you mean, 'requires you to be in New York?' Like for a project where you’ll go there a lot for a period of time on top of all the other places you go to all the time; like Rio, Sydney, and Hong Kong?”

“Uh, not exactly. Like I have to live in New York and London will be added to the list of cities that I travel to regularly.”

My imminent single working mother status, with two teenage boys and a looming house renovation, was becoming crystal clear. I took a deep breath and asked calmly, without a trace of sarcasm (I swear), “Well then, you do have a plan, don't you?”

“Not really; you’re the one that always says things will work out.”

Above: The cities and time zones my husband visits and crosses on a consistent basis.

And that’s when I realized that this was too big for even Mr. 6 P's, and I started to cast widely for a miracle—even considering outrageous plans like transferring our boys out of their UK schools, winning us loads of parental brownie points on the way, no doubt. This time, the Technology Gods took pity and delivered us a solution in the form of SkyDrive and Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium subscription; our own personal cloud-based, virtual office, which allows us to communicate and collaborate across oceans and time zones in real time.

With the OneNote App, I created a Renovation Notebook and then uploaded all of our drawings, images, and documents into the various files I had created. The beauty of it is twofold: Everything is in one place, and because the notebook is on the SkyDrive, it can be accessed by both of us at any time and on any of our devices (laptops, tablets, and phones). We communicated through comments and sketches, and for those decisions requiring further discussion—Skype, now included in the Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium subscription—was on hand to help, and with 60 free minutes a month, we could indulge obsessively about the architectural details.

Above: A quick sketch Bill made with Sketchbook Express on the airplane from Rio to New York, which I was able to access on my Surface Tablet within minutes of his landing at JFK.

For better or for worse, my husband was never actually that far away. Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium subscription enabled us to collaborate on our renovation project together; reminding me of the good old days back in our first apartment when our desks were side by side—maybe even better? After all, a virtual husband produces zero laundry.

Above: Holding down the fort and setting the table for a family dinner in our London house before renovation. Photo by Kristin Perers.

Now that the planning is finished, it's time to move onto the next phase. Shopping—fun if you're doing it together, hard work if you're not. Technology Gods, are you still listening? I need you!

Usually secrets don't stay secret for very long. Which was why I was genuinely worried that my "secret garden" in central London would be gone, ruined, or not secret any more, if I went back after an absence of nine years.

In the early evening last week I headed for the Inner Circle in Regent's Park, took a right at the Rose Garden, and followed the curved road round past the Park Office. And there it was, an alley with one gate open and one gate closed. At the end of this wisteria-clad tunnel my secret garden was looking more ravishing than ever.

Photographs by Kendra Wilson.

Above: Like a country house park in the middle of town, the garden is overlooked by a large Regency villa. The two are separated however by a line of potted shrubs. This is the view through the shrubs toward the private house, which is owned by the Sultan of Brunei.

Above: Our business however is the garden, which has been open to the public since 1928. Part of its secret charm may lie in the fact that it was a neglected corner for many years after becoming public. For the 40 years before that it was a designed garden, intended by its owner the Marquess of Bute as a place for "quiet contemplation."

Above: It is still a place of quiet contemplation, partly because no one is around. This is also a glamorous garden, and the attention lavished on it by invisible gardeners (do they work through the night?) sets it apart from the other Royal Parks.

Above: Pleached limes coming into leaf. They are used as enclosures for two smaller, even quieter gardens, satellites to the main pond area.

The floral displays of Regent's Park are pretty impressive, and it is a highly cultivated public playground. But the St. John's Lodge Garden (for this is its name) has soil which is richer and darker, and planting which is not intended to withstand the goings-on of the general public. Its planting is more personal than civic.

Above: A rustic arbor among the pleaching. At waist height: very informal cow parsley.

Above: Tulips, a giant urn. These are much in evidence around the avenues of Regent's Park, but are put together in a different way in the secret garden.

Above: Cardoons and delphiniums preparing to surge outward and upward in the formal borders. More country house style.

Above: Lupines are also ready to go. Woven willow structures have traveled so far away from the image of yurts and festivals that they are now part of the vernacular of grand gardens. Many also spotted in the highly formalized front gardens along Peto Place, one of the Regency terraces designed by John Nash in the early 1800s, adjacent to Regent's Park.

Above: White violets, hostas, and euphorbia enjoy the moisture of an English dusk.

Above:Free glamor for those who seek it, London NW1.

For more of London's little-known gems, see An Under the Radar Food Market, Beneath London's Railway Arches.

I'm not usually a cut-crystal type of person, but I'm finding myself coveting a light bulb (or two) from UK designer Lee Broom. They're on the expensive side, so we found a couple of lower-priced options for the crystal obsessed among us.

Above: UK designer Lee Broom's lead Crystal Bulbs are individually hand blown and cut at Cumbria Crystal, the sole remaining producer of handmade English full lead crystal in the UK. The bulbs are available directly from Lee Broom for £109 each; the Crystal Bulb plus brushed pendant fitting is $299 from Future Perfect.

Above: Designed by Eric Therner, the halogen Diamond Light is made of glass and "looks as good switched on as when it's switched off." Image via Le Blog Mademoiselle.

Above: The Diamond Lights are available directly from Eric Therner for €40 each (free shipping worldwide).

Above: The Westinghouse Cut Glass Light Bulb is $4.49 at Amazon.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on January 09, 2013 (but we like these so much we just had to post it again).

Heading to Art Basel in June? Swiss architects Herzog de Meuron recently finished work restoring a classic 1925 building in the heart of the city. Volkshaus Basel, a onetime concert hall now houses a bar, brasserie, and concert space, with a hotel coming soon. The world-renowned architects went to great lengths to restore the former grandeur of the space, which had been aesthetically compromised during a 1970s renovation. The architect's stripped the building back to its original frame (the ceilings had been lowered during the renovation), and restored the original height of the rooms while preserving as much of the original detailing as possible. Using a black and white palette, the decidedly modern decor successfully restores an air of Old World glamor. For more information, go to Volkshaus Basel.

Above: The design of the chairs are based on the original Volkshaus chair model.

Above: Bentwood stools arrayed in front of the bar.

Above: Thick hand blown LED pendants are a modern take on chandeliers.

Above: Metal-topped dining tables. The architects chose materials such as metal, leather, and wood, which will gain a weathered patina over time.

Above: A table setting with embossed leather cover.

Above: Wallpaper with seventeenth-century etchings are used in the antechambers of the restrooms and hark back to the early days of Basel, when this area was once a medieval manor.

 Above: On the wall, a mural provides a guide to all the Volkshaus ventures.

A design classic instantly upgrades an interior, and Herman Miller is renowned for producing iconic pieces. The company has long collaborated with the world's leading designers to create some of the most recognizable furnishings of the 20th century.

Here are five favorite Herman Miller picks from luminaries like Ray and Charles Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi. Featuring sleek lines and quality constructions, these midcentury gems seamlessly mix with a variety of looks and infuse timeless style into any space. All pieces are available at YLiving.

Above: Named as the best design of the 20th century by Time magazine (the locomotive came in second), the Eames® Molded Plywood Lounge Chair originated from the Eames' experiments with molding thin sheets of wood veneer. Its appealing low-slung silhouette and gently curved seat and back make for a comfortable and enduring style statement. The chair is available for $849 from YLiving.

Above: A landmark of modern design, the Nelson™ Platform Bench was introduced in 1946 and has become a coveted collector's item. Its clean, rectilinear lines reflect George Nelson's architectural background and the spare silhouette reflected his desire for "honest design" that clearly conveyed an object's purpose. The versitile bench can be used as a table, seating, or display surface; $849 from YLiving.

Above: "Everything is sculpture," said Isamu Noguchi, who in 1948 created the iconic Noguchi® Table, a perfect blend of furniture and art. He topped two curved pieces of wood with a thick slab of glass to form a tripod that is graceful as it is sturdy and functional; $1,499 from YLiving.

Above: Modern with a dash of retro styling, the Eames® Storage Unit employs the Eames' signature use of wire-cross supports. The industrial, modular look was ahead of its time and the result of work they did for the 1949 exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Feature a combination of shelves, drawers, and closed compartments, the unit is ideal for storage and display; $649 from YLiving.

Above: The Eames® Lounge Chair is considered the quintessential modern classic for stylish interiors the world over and appears in the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art. Boasting a rich veneer and supple leather, it represents old-fashioned comfort translated into a contemporary form. The designers, Ray and Charles Eames, set out to create a new take on a club chair using the molded plywood technology they pioneered in the 1940s. The end result conjured what Charles called the warm look of a "well-used baseball mit." The chair is $3,579 from YLiving.

Want to own one of these midcentury classics? Visit YLiving now for a chance to win an Eames Lounge Chair! Hurry, entries must be received by June 10, 2013.