Last summer I scoured Etsy for vintage brass switchplate covers to replace the yellowed plastic ones in our Wellfleet house; what a difference. I wish I had done it years ago. – Julie
Adding a corner banquette in place of a second sink in our tiny kitchen. We had a furniture designer friend build ours and it was very reasonable. – Margot
Swapping out the ugly track light over our dining room table with the Hay rice paper shade (size medium). So simple, but suddenly the room looks effortlessly cool. – Annie
What’s a simple design move you wish you’d known sooner?
A duvet cover without an insert makes a perfect summer-weight coverlet. – Annie
My favorite sheets are…
Extra crisp, like LL Bean’s percale. There should be an audible crinkle. – Annie
My go-to kitchen utensil is…
Kitchen tongs, especially during the summer, for tossing and serving salads. Williams Sonoma offers good options. – Julie
First design love?
Le Corbusier; I studied his work in the legendary William Jordy’s architecture class at Brown University. – Julie
What item from your closet do you have on repeat?
Block-printed tunics from Layla. – Margot
A pale yellow Cristaseya sweater, when weather permits. – Alexa
Favorite design shop to visit (online or in person)?
Maison Empereur in Marseille, and also Labour and Wait in London and Tokyo—I’ve made pilgrimages to them all. – Margot
March in San Francisco. – Julie
What is the last thing you purchased for your house?
Just last week I bought a bronze Cosanti wind chime for our front porch. I love the green and pinkish patina on it. – Fan
Not a purchase, but my grandmother, whom I never met, was a beautiful artist, and my parents recently gave me one of her vibrantly colored paintings. I can’t wait to hang it in my writing room where I can see it and think of her. – Annie
Something you’re coveting?
A new kitchen! My partner and I moved into our circa-1942 Cape a year ago and inherited a rather dated kitchen: orange-y wood cabinets, a broken dishwasher, a yellowed fridge. A coat of paint on the walls and cabinets made a huge difference; we’ve even grown to love the retro stove. But I can’t wait to start fresh. I’m dreaming of slender stainless-steel counters, no linoleum worktops in sight. – Annie
A pair of Giandomenico Belotti Spaghetti Armchairs, but I fear they are not child-friendly, so maybe in a decade! – Alexa
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned next week for more Quick Takes.
N.B.: Featured photograph by Matthew Williams with styling by Alexa Hotz, from Before/After: A Remodelista’s Refreshed Parlor Floor Flat in Brooklyn Heights, NY.
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