Dwell 4/1/2016

This quote resonated as we put together this issue, which is devoted to two very important rooms of the house—the kitchen and the bath. It’s within these spaces that we are our most ritualistic, connected to the actions and thoughts that define how we live. Exploring the balance of aesthetics and utility is especially meaningful in the context of the domestic spaces that sustain us. These are rooms that must perform for us, and, in turn, allow us to perform the most basic functions of being alive. It is no wonder, then, that the kitchen and the bath are always at the top of the renovation punch list: They reign as objects of domestic fantasy. Preparing a meal or washing away the day in a clean, comforting, and safe space…

I have enjoyed Dwell since the inaugural issue, so on this anniversary (October 2015) I’d like to compliment one of the unsung heroes of the magazine: your cover logo. It still stands as a strong, modern, and timeless piece of typographic design. Pete Friedrich Mount Kisco, New York The container house in Yardley, Pennsylvania (“Up to Eleven,” December/January 2016), has made me swoon for years now. Great to see it featured (and the inside of it) in this month’s issue! @ziggyirie Posted to Instagram I was just reading the article “Into the Wild” (November 2015). It says, “An eco-conscious architect builds a vacation home.” My question is, how can you be eco-conscious and build a vacation home? David Vanparys Wasilla, Alaska Just wanted to say how much I love the…

While the new build is nice enough, I felt immediately sad that it is at the expense of the charming older home next door. If the architect was obsessed with the relationship between buildings and the larger environments they occupy, I’m not sure that concern included the adjacent house, which will forever be in the shadow of a plain 52-foot wall. I assume this neighborhood is transitional and hopefully this building/business will bring new life and energy to it, but I think it could have been done a bit more sensitively to the home next door. Mark Millikan Eureka, California The story describing architect William Carpenter’s Lightroom 2.0 as being built to “sit unobtrusively among its 1920s neighbors” caused me to guffaw impulsively when I saw the photograph of the…

@HolisticSpaces: Very cool article on @TheSill! “Owning a houseplant in a city like New York is so important.” @MacGuru96: Life goals: To have a house beautiful enough to be featured in Dwell. @chadpflores: I’ve never seen a chair in @dwell that I didn’t want to buy. @dawnfisherdsgn: Love when architecture appreciates nature with a view. @ClayAlan150: Thanks @dwell for another fantastic issue. You are my favorite magazine for sure. @karenfron: Nothing warms up a cold day like an interior space done in wood.…

Back at my family’s home, the kitchen is a gathering place. A place to cook together and grow together. @bailey_rochelle / Posted to Instagram We store our staples in clear glass jars on exposed shelves. It encourages friends and guests to help themselves if they need a little snack. @modernquiltstudio / Posted to Instagram I love that my kitchen is open with a cooktop island, so I can talk to guests while cooking. @teresaodle / Posted to Twitter The shelving system above my sink, because the fun display of tableware and tchotchkes makes washing dishes more bearable! @ChristinaIssa / Posted to Twitter I love having two Bosch dishwashers—when entertaining, the whole mess disappears. @luckyj3341 / Posted to Instagram…

Iain Aitch In this issue, frequent Dwell contributor Iain Aitch wrote about the renovated Victorian home of Jamie and Becky Norton in Stoke Newington, London (p. 62). “I loved the drop that architect William Tozer made from the living space to the dining area,” he says. “Simple, but it really makes the space work.” Aitch writes for several newspapers in the UK, and works as an artist, author, and creative consultant. What’s your favorite item in your kitchen? “My SimpleHuman butterfly recycling bin, which manages to be both elegant and efficient.” Julian Broad British photographer Julian Broad has contributed to Vanity Fair for 25 years. He got his start with commissions for Arena and The Face magazines. Though he primarily shoots portraits, he segued into architectural photography to document the…