Interior design maven Bunny Williams and her stunning Connecticut garden, photographed by Lynn Karlin. Look for the story — Almost Heaven — written by Tovah Martin in our new issue, in home and online the first week of March.

By Danielle Ossher

Weaving my way through Pier 94 yesterday at the New York International Gift Fair was definitely one of the more overwhelming — and truly amazing — days spent. Lacquered tables on the left, oversize vases on the right, couches ahead, artwork behind. And while I was surrounded in products worth stopping for, a few had me lingering, wishing, and hoping (which I am now sharing). One great example: these Michelle Hatch pillows (above), accentuated with metal nailheads, Swarovski elements, and vintage ribbons.

By Alyssa Lusky, DNE Editorial Intern

Just as no less than the research sages at Harvard’s Joint Center for House Studies predict that spending on home improvement will be on an upward track, the latest tome from money-smart architecture guru Duo Dickinson lands on our desk. Suddenly, those dreams of a new bathroom and renovated kitchen seem within our reach.

Eric Roth

Waiting for the freeze at the Ice Chimes sculpture are (from left) Robert Linn, Oliver Bouchier of Payne|Bouchier Fine Builders, who constructed it, and project co-designer Sarah West of Moskow Linn Architect.

Icicles dangling from rooftops are beguiling, “but who can resist pulling them down to hear them shatter?” asks Robert Linn of Moskow Linn Architects of Boston. Such sight and sound inspired him and partner Keith Moskow to create Ice Chimes, a winter sculpture on display on Boston’s Rose Kennedy Greenway through April. Heat coils in a perforated canopy melt snow and ice then the water drips along metal conduits beneath. Add frigid air and, voilá, icicles, which clink and chime in the wind until, heavy with their own weight, they fall into the steel hopper below for a percussive finale.

See the story in our Jan/Feb Kitchen + Bath issue online now!

It was our small ode to a design legend, over five years ago when creating DNE. And it's our small way of remembering her now. Here's to one extraordinary woman.

Gorgeous photograph by Eric Roth of the Concord, Massachusetts, house designed by ZeroEnergy Design with Connor Homes. Look for the story — Well-Being — written by Bruce Irving in our new issue out the first week of January!

By Jill Connors

If anyone on your Christmas list loves style books, the natural world, or both — look no further. A new book called “The Birding Life: A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield” is the perfect gift ($50, Clarkson Potter, New York, 2011). It’s really an exquisite interiors book masquerading as a book about the world of birding.

By Gail Ravgiala

Where else to present the Bulfinch design awards than at the Massachusetts State House, the landmark civic building designed by Charles Bulfinch, for whom the prizes awarded by the New England Chapter of the Institute for Classical Architecture & Art are named? This “new” State House (above) was built in 1798 atop Boston’s Beacon Hill across from Boston Common, a public park that also has the stamp of Bulfinch’s influence.

By Danielle Ossher

Forgo the usual Black Friday chaos — give original works by budding artists (and support their education, to boot). New England is home to several nationally acclaimed art schools, and come December, they host holiday sales brimming with great to-be gifts, from jewelry and ceramics to paintings and drawings (like Michelle Samour's Wired Eye #3 (detail), Pigmented abaca and gouache, above, from The Museum School).

By Gail Ravgiala

When we announced our Mentors in Design program at our Fourth Anniversary party last November, it was met with both enthusiasm and confusion. What is the criteria? Who can be nominated? What if I work with him or her? What if I don’t? We purposely offered few parameters hoping we would encourage people to think beyond the obvious and dig deep to consider how mentors can be both subtle and powerful presences in our lives.

By Gail Ravgiala

DesignIntelligence, the bimonthly journal of the Design Futures Council, a national network of design, product, and construction leaders, has named three regional academics to its annual list of 25 exemplary education professionals — two of the regional honorees recently had their work featured in our pages.

By Molly Campbell, Account Executive

Rain chains, secret phone booth doors, disappearing walls, and optical illusions – do you have any idea how you could have all of these magical things in your home? You would if you had attended DNE’s final fall Design Salon, “Just for You” last night at Medallion Gallery in Boston.

By Gail Ravgiala

Move over Fashion Week. Even with your new and improved tented venue, you can’t hold a candle to the annual extravaganza staged by International Interior Design Association New England. Here, fiercely competitive teams of wildly creative types from 22 of the region’s top design and architectural firms perform feats of modern day alchemy. Using nothing but materials used for the interiors of corporate offices, hotel lobbies, restaurants, hospitals, and airport terminals (think flooring, hardware, and upholstery fabric), the teams make sublimely cerebral fashion statements.

Jerry Arcari of Landry & Arcari, Eliza Tan of Eliza Tan Interiors, and host Linda McGuire of Circle Furniture.

By Molly Campbell, Account Executive

I think it’s safe to say that every one of the attendees at last night’s Design Salon presented by DNE and hosted by Circle Furniture at its Cambridge location left the event quite a bit wiser with regard to keeping the home “Green & Personal.” The speakers were among the best in the local industry and proved it with their engaging and informative presentations.

By Danielle Ossher

Gail Ravgiala and I ventured to NYC yesterday for the 2011 Folio: Awards, with the magazine up for three honors — two Eddies (for editorial excellence) and one Ozzie (for design excellence). After a whirlwind day (involving a lot of coffee and time on the train) I am thrilled to share that DNE is three awards richer!

By Jill Connors

British author, collector, and antiques-show host Judith Miller’s newest book puts the world of antiques in your hands. Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2012-2013 covers the latest trends and prices for every category of antique — with information targeting both English and American markets, although all prices are in U.S. dollars and many objects are specifically American antiques.

By Danielle Ossher

Last night I wandered around Cyclorama, wide-eyed, taking in the marvel that is Ellis Boston Antiques show — a Boston mainstay making its triumphant return this weekend after a two-year hiatus (with new name and partners thanks to Fusco & Four). And after seeing what the show has to offer, it's a laudable return indeed. Every booth is a heavy hitter, and diversity is prevalent. Majolica pottery catches the eye in one corner, crystal boxes in another (like this stunning one, above, at Sallea Antiques's booth). A set of Charles Dickens's Christmas stories (at Imperial Fine Books), dazzling art-deco jewelry (at Marcoz), and iron chair (below, at Andrew Spindler Antiques) all had us captivated.

Eric Roth

A builder's spec house becomes a light filled, high voltage North Shore home, from March/April 2010.

By Gail Ravgiala and Danielle Ossher

Design Boston — the annual 3-day event at the Boston Design Center — is an industry staple. And while we're in the thick of closing our next issue (so please forgive the delay), we stepped away from our keyboards long enough to attend Design Trends 2012, the inaugural talk given by BDC vice president and general manager Julie Rogowski. Of all the new and exciting trends she covered, the one that still has us talking is... taupe.

By Molly A. Campbell, DNE Account Executive

It’s clear that there were only two places to be in the greater Boston area last night — the TD Garden as the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins raised that historic banner or the Viking Center in Westwood for the Design New England salon, “Kitchen Confidence.” Well, that might be overstating things slightly, but such comparisons are exactly what DNE’s expert speakers employed to guide the audience at last night’s event toward a better understanding of what it takes to create a beautiful, useful, custom kitchen in today’s home.

By Danielle Ossher

It hit me this past weekend... fall has arrived! The crisp evening air, the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, the deep browns, reds, and purples — there is so much natural beauty and calm all around at this time. So while I can't play hooky to hike and enjoy "leaf peeping," I found myself flipping through our issues to stare at some gorgeous photographs from stories past, like this stunning Autumn landscape (above & below, from Nov/Dec 2009) photographed by Eric Roth.